16 WAPT BEGINS WITH BREAKING NEWS. WE DO BEGIN WITH BREAKING NEWS TONIGHT, A COVINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPUTY SHOT AND SERIOUSLY INJURED IN A TRAFFIC STOP. RIGHT NOW, AUTHORITIES ARE LOOKING FOR TWO MEN. HERE. THEY ARE ON YOUR SCREEN. ZAKARYAN MCGHEE AND TAVIAN HOBBS. A HUGE MANHUNT UNDERWAY IN THE MOUNT OLIVE AREA RIGHT NOW. THE SHOOTING HAPPENED NEAR THE CASH SAVER GROCERY STORE ON MAIN STREET EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON. 16 WAPT’S NICHOLAS BROOKS IS THERE. LIVE FOR US. NICHOLAS, WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED? YEAH, MEGAN, JUST IN A FEW MINUTES BEFORE GOING LIVE, WE LEARNED THAT GOVERNOR TATE REEVES PUT OUT INFORMATION SAYING THAT A COVINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF DEPUTY WAS SHOT AND HAS SERIOUS INJURIES. AND ALL OF THIS WAS DURING A TRAFFIC STOP. NOW, ONCE YOU KEEP LOOKING AT YOUR SCREEN BECAUSE A VIEWER SENT US A VIDEO IN THAT SEEMS TO BE RELATED TO THIS OFFICER DOWN SITUATION. AND AS THAT VIDEO COMES UP, WE’RE GOING TO DESCRIBE WHAT WE SEE NOW. WHAT YOU’RE SEEING NOW IS TWO MEN WALKING IN A BACK YARD. ONE IS WEARING A TAN HOODIE. ANOTHER ONE IS WEARING A BLACK HOODIE. BOTH OF THE GUYS SEEN WALKING IN THE BACKYARD. MOMENTS LATER, YOU DO SEE A SEVERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS LOOKING IN THE AREA APPEARS TO BE LOOKING FOR THEM AGAIN. ONE OF THEM WAS WEARING A CAMOUFLAGE TAN HOODIE, BLACK PANTS. THE OTHER ONE WAS WEARING A BLACK HOODIE AND GRAY PANTS. NOW, AS I GIVE YOU THAT DESCRIPTION, GOING LIVE HERE AT 5:00, WE GOT A PUBLIC SAFETY ALERT THAT SAYS THEY’RE LOOKING FOR A 19 YEAR OLD, ZACHARY MCGEE AND 19 YEAR OLD KARTALIAN DWAYNE HOBBS. NOW, BOTH WERE LAST SEEN ON FOOT AT 3:38 P.M. NEAR 200 BLOCK OF SOUTH BLUFFS, SITE OF MOUNT OLIVE. ONE WAS WEARING, IT SAYS HERE A BLACK HOODIE AND GRAY PANTS. THE OTHER WAS WEARING A CAMOUFLAGE JACKET AND BLACK PANTS. NOW THAT SAME DESCRIPTION IS WHAT WE SEE IN THE VIDEO THAT WAS SENT IN BY THAT HOMEOWNER. NOW ALSO, IF WE GET THE SHOT BACK ON ME REAL QUICK, WE WANT TO SHOW YOU GUYS THE SCENE WE’RE SEEING RIGHT NOW HERE AT THE CAR SAVER ON MOUNT OLIVE. YOU CAN SEE THE POLICE TAPE IS UP. POLICE HAVE BEEN OUT HERE FOR HOURS. I WAS TOLD BY THE MANAGER OF THE CASE SAVER. THIS HAPPENED AROUND 2:30 P.M. BUT LET’S LOOK AT OUR FAR LEFT FROM THE CRIME SCENE IS MAYBE KIND OF HARD TO SEE BECAUSE OF THE TREE, BUT YOU CAN SEE THAT A BLUE SUV IS RIGHT THERE. IT’S ACTUALLY IN QUESTION IN RELATION TO THIS OFFICER DOWN SITUATION. AND AGAIN, CASH SAVER REPORTED AT 5:00 WAS ON LOCKDOWN WHEN THEY HEARD 12 SHOTS ABOUT THE MANAGER WHO SAID IT TO US. BUT THIS IS WHAT WE’RE SEEING AS RIGHT NOW. WE’LL KEEP YOU GUYS UP TO DATE WITH THE LATEST INFORMATION. AGAIN, PUBLIC SAFETY ALERTS. LOOKING FOR TWO ACTIVE MEN? BOTH ARE 19. ONE IS NAMED AS I CARRY ON. THE OTHER WAS NAMED TAVIAN AS COURT HOBBS. REPORTIN
Public Safety Alert updated after Covington County deputy shot; one original suspect cleared
Governor asks for prayer in social media post as manhunt underway
Updated: 9:49 PM CDT Jun 8, 2026
Authorities are searching for brothers Cortavious Lawayne Hobbs, 18, and Cortavion Dewayne Hobbs, 19, who are wanted in connection with the shooting of a Covington County sheriff’s deputy in Mount Olive. Investigators say both men are armed and dangerous.The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation issued a Blue Alert after the two were identified as suspects in connection with an officer involved shooting that happened Monday at approximately 3:38 p.m. in Mount Olive.Authorities said the suspects could be in the area of the 200 block of South Bluff Street in Covington County.According to MBI, Cortavious Hobbs was last seen wearing a black hoodie. He is described as a Black male, 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighing about 140 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair.Cortavion Hobbs was last seen wearing a camouflage hoodie. He is also described as a Black male, 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighing about 140 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair.Officials previously identified 19-year-old Zykerian Quentavius Magee as a suspect. However, Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell said Tuesday that Magee has been cleared as a subject involved in the case at this time.The shooting happened near Greer’s Cash Saver on Main Street in Mount Olive.According to an employee, the grocery store was placed on lockdown after a deputy was shot during a traffic stop.A manager at Greer’s said he saw deputies chasing a vehicle before hearing about 10 to 12 gunshots.Authorities with the Covington County Sheriff’s Office said they were responding to an “officer down” situation.Multiple law enforcement agencies responded and searched for the suspects before the Blue Alert was issued.One resident, Brittany Applewhite, said she saw two people wearing hoodies outside her home on Main Street and later observed numerous law enforcement officers searching the area.Gov. Tate Reeves asked Mississippians to keep the injured deputy in their prayers in a social media post Monday.”A hero needs your prayers. Today, a Covington County Sheriff’s Deputy was shot and seriously injured during a traffic stop. Law enforcement is working to bring those responsible to justice. Make no mistake, they will be brought to justice. Please pray for this deputy and their family, Mississippi!” Reeves wrote.Authorities have also confirmed the two suspects are the brothers of Cordarius Hobbs, who is currently being held in the Rankin County Jail on capital murder charges in connection with the deaths of Bill and Carol Blair in Simpson County.According to investigators, Simpson County deputies were conducting a welfare check at the Blairs’ home when they believe they interrupted a burglary in progress. Authorities said Cordarius Hobbs shot a deputy and held law enforcement at bay for several hours before he was eventually taken into custody.Cordarius Hobbs remains jailed without bond on multiple charges.Anyone with information about the whereabouts of the Hobbs brothers is asked to call 911 immediately or contact the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation at 855-642-5378.Stay with WAPT.com for updates to this developing situation.
MOUNT OLIVE, Miss. —
Authorities have updated a Public Safety Alert issued after a Covington County sheriff’s deputy was shot Monday afternoon in Mount Olive.
Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell said 19-year-old Zykerian Quentavius Magee has been cleared as a subject in the case at this time.
Authorities said 19-year-old Cortavion Dewayne Hobbs remains wanted and should be considered armed and dangerous.
Investigators are also gathering information about a second subject and said additional details will be released as they become available.
The shooting happened shortly after 3:30 p.m. near Greer’s Cash Saver on Main Street in Mount Olive.
According to an employee, the grocery store was placed on lockdown after a deputy was shot during a traffic stop nearby.
A manager at Greer’s said he saw deputies chasing a vehicle before hearing 10 to 12 gunshots.
The Covington County Sheriff’s Office initially described the incident as an “officer down situation,” prompting a large response from multiple law enforcement agencies.
Witness Brittany Applewhite said she saw two people wearing hooded sweatshirts outside her home on Main Street before numerous law enforcement officers moved through the area.
Governor Tate Reeves asked for public support in a Facebook post:
A hero needs your prayers. Today, a Covington County Sheriff’s Deputy was shot and seriously injured during a traffic stop. Law enforcement is working to bring those responsible to justice. Make no mistake, they will be brought to justice. Please pray for this deputy and their family, Mississippi!”
Anyone with information about Hobbs’ whereabouts is urged to contact the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation at 855-642-5378 or call 911.
