Enterprise-Journal
A Lincoln County man is receiving treatment at the University of Mississippi Medical Center this morning for two gunshot wounds following an hour-long standoff Thursday with sheriff’s deputies.
Lincoln County Sheriff Steve Rushing said deputies went to serve two felony warrants on Christopher Hamilton, 40, 421 River Road around 1 p.m. Upon arrival, Rushing said Hamilton was in the yard.
When Hamilton saw deputies exiting their vehicle, Hamilton went inside the house and came back out with a firearm.
Hamilton, wanted for felony child abuse and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, allegedly began firing at officers.
When officers returned fire, he went back inside his home.
Rushing said officers called for assistance and secured the perimeter.
He said authorities were able to persuade Hamilton to surrender by telephone.
When deputies entered the house, they found Hamilton with two gunshot wounds — one to his arm and one to his side.
Hamilton went to King’s Daughters Medical Center by ambulance before being flown to UMMC.
Rushing said he knew Hamilton underwent a successful surgery Thursday night, but his condition was unknown this morning.
He said none of the deputies was injured during the standoff, but because the case is now an officer-involved shooting, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation will handle the remainder of the investigation.
Rushing said deputies involved are on administrative leave with pay.
“We have certain steps we go through with policy and procedure when we have incidents like this,” he said. “It’s a stressful situation.”
Authorities are with Hamilton at the hospital, where he will remain in police custody and go to jail upon his release.
