The Copiah County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a deadly shooting after a 39-year-old man was found dead behind a home in Hazlehurst on Monday, in what authorities are describing as an apparent homicide.
Deputies said they were called at approximately 11:40 a.m. to the 1000 block of Johnsons Lane after a family member discovered the victim behind a residence.
The victim has been identified as 39-year-old Benjamin Price. According to Copiah County Sheriff Byron Swilley, Price suffered a single gunshot wound to the chest.
Authorities said emergency personnel responded to the scene, but Price was pronounced dead after being located. Investigators secured the area as they began processing evidence and speaking with witnesses in an effort to determine what led to the shooting.
Sheriff Swilley confirmed that Price’s body will be transported to the Mississippi State Crime Laboratory for an autopsy. Officials said that until the results of the autopsy are returned and additional evidence is reviewed, the case will remain classified as an active death investigation.
At this time, no arrests have been announced, and investigators have not released information regarding a possible suspect or motive. Deputies said they are continuing to follow leads as they work to reconstruct the timeline of events leading up to the discovery of Price’s body.
The Copiah County Sheriff’s Department is asking anyone who may have seen or heard anything suspicious in the area of Johnsons Lane around the time of the incident to come forward and assist investigators. Tips can be provided directly to the sheriff’s department or anonymously through CrimeStoppers.
As the investigation continues, the community of Hazlehurst is left mourning a sudden and violent loss, as loved ones of Benjamin Price await answers in a case that has shaken the area and remains unresolved.
