Suspected Shooter of Slain Mississippi Officers Could Face Death Penalty
Accused shooter Marvin Banks has mental problems and is addicted to drugs, appearing high in photos after he was arrested, his mother said Monday.

Curtis Banks, left and Marvin Banks, right. Marvin Banks is charged with capital murder in the shootings of two Hattiesburg, Miss., patrol officers. (Photo: Oxford (Miss.) PD)
The man charged with two counts of capital murder in the Saturday night shooting deaths of two Hattiesburg, Miss., officers was denied bond Monday afternoon.
Marvin Banks, 29, a convicted felon who was free on two separate bonds on a pair of previous charges, was one of four suspects connected to the slayings of patrolmen Benjamin J. Deen and Liquori Tate appearing before Forrest County Justice Court Judge Gay Polk-Payton, USA Today reports.
Joanie Calloway, 23, who originally had been charged with two counts of capital murder, faced Monday one count of accessory after the fact of capital murder.
It was the same charge against Banks' younger brother, Curtis, 26.
The fourth suspect, Cornelius Clark, 28, had been charged with rendering criminal assistance/hindering prosecution for helping Marvin Banks elude the widespread search that ended at the Northgate Inn on U.S. 49 early Sunday morning.
Marvin Banks had been free on bonds related to possession of controlled substance and possession of a firearm when Saturday's shooting took place.
Accused shooter Marvin Banks has mental problems and is addicted to drugs, appearing high in photos after he was arrested, his mother said Monday.
Mary Smith said her son Marvin smoked "spice" daily and had been hearing voices ever since he was attacked and hit in the head with a pipe several years ago.
Smith told the Associated Press that she has no doubt that Marvin killed the officers.
Deen, 34, a six-year veteran of the force who also was a K-9 officer, was named Officer of the Year in 2012.
He left behind a wife and two young children.
Tate, 25, was a graduate of the 16-officer, Hattiesburg Police Academy Class No. 30 in 2014. He earned the class's "Top Shot Proficiency Pistol Award."
Tate had been on patrol for less than a year.
More Patrol

The First Responders Children’s Foundation National First Responders Day Roll Call of Heroes Ceremony Returns to Times Square, NYC
First Responders Children’s Foundation (FRCF), in collaboration with T-Mobile, will host the Roll Call of Heroes ceremony in Times Square to commemorate National First Responders Day on Wednesday, Oct. 28. During the event, FRCF will present 18 Hero Awards.
Read More →
Streamlight to Showcase Newest Lighting Products for Law Enforcement Professionals at IACP 2026
Streamlight will showcase its newest lights for law enforcement at the International Association of Chiefs of Police Annual Conference & Expo. Featured lights will include the TLR-3 X, the PolyTac 1X, and more.
Read More →
Streamlight Portable Scene Light III Wins 2026 OH&S New Product of the Year Award
Streamlight’s Portable Scene Light III has won the 2026 Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) New Product of the Year Award in the Lighting category.
Read More →
Adept Armor Introduces Two New Rifle Plates
Adept Armor has launched two new Level IV ballistic plates, the Emperor and the Archon Mark 2, which brings Adept Armor’s new Quatroid ceramic to the high-threat, performance-value center of the range at 5.2 pounds.
Read More →
POLICE Product Test: Benchmade Bailout
The Benchmade Bailout is a slim, lightweight carry knife with a deep-ride pocket clip and comes in a variety of blade steels and scales. Here is a detailed review of the Taiga Green Bailout, released earlier this year.
Read More →
NLEOMF Announces July 2026 Officer of the Month
NLEOMF honored a Michigan deputy sheriff as the July 2026 Officer of the Month for rescuing a trapped driver from a burning vehicle following a Fourth of July crash.
Read More →
Streamlight to Showcase Newest Lighting Products at National Safety Council’s Safety Congress & Expo 2026
Streamlight will showcase its latest lights, including the Portable Scene Light III and the LiteBox 1Million, at the 2026 National Safety Council (NSC) Safety Congress & Expo.
Read More →
The 2027 World Police & Fire Games Set for Perth, Australia
The 2027 World Police & Fire Games (WPFG) will take place in Perth, Western Australia, from Friday, March 12 through Sunday, March 21, 2027.
Read More →
5.11 Partners with National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to Support #ForThe343
5.11 has joined the nationwide movement honoring the 343 New York City Fire Department firefighters lost on Sept. 11, 2001.
Read More →
Team Wendy Announces Title Sponsorship of the Jorge Pastore Foundation
Team Wendy’s 3-year partnership with the Jorge Pastore Foundation expands access to programs that strengthen those who serve.
Read More →