TUPELO – Authorities have identified the man who led multiple law enforcement agencies on a high-speed pursuit Saturday afternoon before crashing his car and fatally confronting police.
Lee County Coroner Carolyn Green identified the deceased as Juwan Harris, 31, of Nettleton. He was pronounced dead July 19 at 1:55 p.m. at the North Mississippi Medical Center. His body will be transported to the State Medical Examiner’s office in Pearl for autopsy.
Sources with knowledge of the incident said it started in Monroe County, proceeded north where both the Mississippi Highway Patrol and Verona joined the case. Tupelo police offered assistance once it reached their city limits around 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
Mississippi Bureau of Investigation spokesperson Bailey Martin said officers originally responded to a call to assist a neighboring agency in a pursuit with a hostage in the vehicle.
The suspect wrecked the vehicle in Tupelo and came to rest along Highway 45 between McCullough Boulevard and Interstate 22. Following the wreck, the suspect got out of the car and pointed a weapon at officers.
“The officers then discharged their weapons striking the subject and causing serious injuries,” Martin said. “The subject was transported to a nearby hospital.”
The officer or officers who fired upon Harris have not been identified. The MBI release said the shooting involved the Verona Police Department.
No officers were injured during the encounter.
MBI is the lead agency looking into the incident. They are currently assessing this critical incident and gathering evidence. Upon completing the investigation, agents will share their findings with the Attorney General’s Office.