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“Wanted Simpson Co. suspect identified following incident at USM Hattiesburg campus parking garage
Simpson County man taken into custody after standoff at USM parking garage.
By WDAM Staff
Published: Apr. 5, 2024 at 1:58 PM CDT
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WDAM) – A wanted suspect is headed back to Simpson County following an incident on the University of Southern Mississippi’s Hattiesburg campus Friday afternoon.
The Simpson County Sheriff’s Office has identified the suspect as 25-year-old DaMarcus Tyrese Burkett of the Pinola community in Simpson County.
DaMarcus Tyrese Burkett, 25, of the Pinola community, had been arrested on Feb. 8 on one count…
DaMarcus Tyrese Burkett, 25, of the Pinola community, had been arrested on Feb. 8 on one count of enticement of a child, and two counts of possession of child pornography. He was free on a $150,000 bond and was scheduled for a court appearance Friday morning.(Simpson County Sheriff’s Office)
According to the university, campus police were alerted by SCSO at 12:45 p.m., that a person wanted on felony charges was on the campus.
At 1:10 p.m., an Eagle Alert was sent to USM students, faculty and staff to avoid the second floor of the parking garage in response to the incident.
USM said officers located an armed individual in the parking garage, not affiliated with the university, who was threatening self-harm.
According to an Eagle Alert sent from the university Friday at 1:10 p.m., UPD is responding to…
According to an Eagle Alert sent from the university Friday at 1:10 p.m., UPD is responding to an incident in the parking garage on the Hattiesburg campus.(Ame Posey)
After negotiations, USM campus officers, along with members of the Hattiesburg Police Department, Forrest County Sheriff’s Office, Lamar County Sheriff’s Office and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, were able to resolve the situation without incident.
“I commend the work of all agencies and the cooperation of the University community members in responding to today’s incident,” said USM Campus Police Chief/Assistant Vice President of Public Safety, Rusty Keyes. “The safety of our students is our main priority, and the timely management of today’s events demonstrates our conscious efforts to protect the health and well-being of our University community.”
The University of Southern Mississippi Campus Police Department in Hattiesburg is responding to an active incident.
At this time, the parking garage has been reopened, according to a recent Eagle Alert update.
The parking garage has been reopened, according to an Eagle Alert from USM.
The parking garage has been reopened, according to an Eagle Alert from USM.(University of Southern Mississippi)
According to SCSO, Burkett had been arrested on Feb. 8 on one count of enticement of a child, and two counts of possession of child pornography. He was free on a $150,000 bond and was scheduled for a court appearance Friday morning.
Burkett had been arrested on Feb. 8 on one count of enticement of a child, and two counts of possession of child pornography. He was free on a $150,000 bond and was scheduled for a court appearance Friday morning.
The spokesperson said Burkett posted on his Facebook profile that he was suicidal, saying as if “he more or less wrote his own obituary.”
Burkett’s family had notified SCSO of the post. The sheriff’s office then began to locate him by tracking his cellphone, with the last ping coming from the USM Hattiesburg campus.
The reason for Burkett to be on campus is unknown at this time.
USM said Burkett is now in the custody of the University Police Department and will be transported to SCSO later Friday.
The Simpson County Sheriff’s Office said it will be up to a judge to decide whether Burkett will remain free on bond.
WDAM 7 is continuing to monitor the situation. Updates will be added as soon as new information becomes available.”
