Crime
Hinds County Deputy Martin Shields shot and killed in Terry, Suspect found deceased
Hinds County, MS – A Hinds County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) deputy was shot and killed Sunday evening while responding to a domestic disturbance call at a residence on Midway Road in Terry.
According to an official press release, Deputy Martin Shields, Jr., 37, was dispatched to the home when he was fatally shot by Eric Brown, 42 upon arrival.
Shields, who had been with HCSO for approximately nine months, had prior experience in law enforcement beyond his tenure with the department.
Sheriff Tyree Jones confirmed Shields’ tragic passing in the line of duty and extended condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time.
Authorities also reported that an unidentified Black male, believed to be connected to the domestic incident, was found deceased inside the home.
The details surrounding his death remain under investigation.
A Be On the Lookout (BOLO) alert issued for Eric Brown has since been canceled. Sheriff Jones stated that there is no ongoing threat involving Brown at this time.
The Hinds County Sheriff’s Office, along with SWAT teams, remains on the scene as the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI) leads the ongoing inquiry into the incident.
Anyone with information regarding this case is urged to contact the Hinds County Sheriff’s Office at (601) 352-1521.
Crime
55-year-old Harold Newton Keene arrested after shooting inside the Austin Central Library
AUSTIN, Texas — A man was taken into custody Saturday afternoon following a shooting inside the Austin Central Library that left one person seriously injured and prompted a large emergency response and temporary shelter-in-place order in the downtown area.
According to the Austin Police Department (APD), officers responded shortly after 12:00 p.m. to reports of gunfire inside the Austin Central Library, located at 710 W. César Chávez Street.
Upon arrival, police and Austin-Travis County EMS units found one victim suffering from a gunshot wound.
The individual was transported to a local hospital in serious but stable condition.
Assistant Police Chief Lee Rogers stated during a press briefing that the shooter fled the scene before officers arrived.
After an extensive search, the suspect—identified as 55-year-old Harold Newton Keene—was located and arrested in South Austin at approximately 1:25 p.m.
The library was safely evacuated, and the shelter-in-place alert was lifted shortly after Keene’s apprehension.
Authorities emphasized that the shooting appeared to be an isolated incident involving only one suspect and one victim.
“This was not an active shooter situation,” Rogers confirmed.
Preliminary reports and public records reveal that Harold Newton Keene has a lengthy criminal history, including multiple arrests for assault, family violence, terroristic threats, burglary, drug possession, and evading arrest.
He is described by law enforcement officials as a habitual violent offender who has had numerous prior run-ins with police.
Records indicate Keene was previously arrested for threatening a man with a firearm several months ago and, in a separate incident, assaulted another inmate while in custody at the Travis County Jail.
In both cases, prosecutors later declined to pursue charges.
Authorities have not yet released a possible motive for the shooting or confirmed whether the suspect and victim knew each other.
The Austin Police Department’s Major Crimes Division is leading the investigation.
Anyone with information related to the incident is urged to contact the Austin Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 512-472-TIPS.
