CANTON, Miss. (AP) - A Mississippi man who had been recently released on a domestic violence charge kidnapped the mother of his child and led police on a chase that ended when he crashed the car, fatally shot the woman and then killed himself, authorities said.
Jamarquis Black, 24, crashed his vehicle Friday morning on Interstate 55 in south Mississippi, where police said he shot and killed Pheonecia Ratliff, 23, before fatally shooting himself, news outlets reported. The two had a daughter, police said.
Canton Police Assistant Chief Terrence Ware said Black had waited in the bushes outside Ratliff’s mother’s home Thursday night and jumped her when she returned home from work with her sister.
Black shot Ratliff’s sister in the thigh and abducted Ratliff at gunpoint, Canton Police Chief Otha Brown said. The sister is expected to survive, Brown said.
Police tracked Black down using his cellphone location. Black’s mother called him and tried to get him to go to the authorities but Black said he would turn himself in only if he were allowed to see his child, Brown said.
A Mississippi Highway Patrol trooper later found Black and attempted to pull him over but Black fled, leading police on a chase down I-55 through Bogue Chitto, about 85 miles (137 kilometers) southwest of Canton, until he crashed, Brown said. Black refused to get out of the car and later shot Ratliff and himself, Brown said.
Ratliff filed a domestic violence report and stalking charges against Black in April. He had been arrested May 8 and charged with the two crimes, Brown said. Black posted bail and was released Monday.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.