STATE LINE, Miss. – Law enforcement in Greene County is in the middle of an intense manhunt for a suspect accused of taking three lives on New Year’s Day. Multiple agencies have joined forces to track down the individual responsible for a tragic shooting at a gas station in State Line, Mississippi, just west of the Alabama border.
According to Chief Deputy Brad Warrick with the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, the horrifying incident began early in the morning at Clark’s gas station on St. Peters Street. The suspect, who remains unidentified, was reportedly waiting behind the building for the gas station to open.
Once the store was accessible, the suspect entered and fatally shot the clerk and a customer who was inside. Tragically, another person outside the gas station was also killed before the suspect fled the scene in a stolen vehicle.
The victim working as the clerk has been identified as Rhonda Denson. Her daughter, Malisea Ellington, spoke about the devastating loss. “My mama was very loved and respected. It’s heartbreaking that she’s getting her flowers under these circumstances. She was sweet and kind, and this shouldn’t have happened,” she said.
Authorities later found the stolen vehicle about four miles away, abandoned on Highway 42, but the suspect was nowhere to be seen. Washington County Sheriff Richard Stringer explained that the search is now focused on a small area, about two to three miles outside the State Line community. Officers are using tracking dogs to follow the suspect’s trail from where the car was left.
The incident was caught on surveillance cameras, but officials say the suspect took steps to hide their identity. Chief Deputy Warrick expressed his frustration and determination, saying, “It’s a cowardly act. I’ve seen the footage, and this person has no respect for human life. We won’t stop until justice is served.”
The suspect is considered armed and dangerous, and authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward. If you have details about the incident or know where the suspect might be, please contact the Greene County Sheriff’s Office immediately.
This tragic event has shaken the tight-knit community, leaving loved ones mourning the loss of three innocent lives. As the search continues, the hope remains that the individual responsible will soon be brought to justice.
