Suspect charged with shooting Vicksburg police officer in the face
Published 7:51 pm Sunday, December 6, 2020
JACKSON — The suspect connected to a shooting in Jackson early Saturday that critically injured a Vicksburg police officer is in custody.
Jaqwon Allen, 29, faces two counts of aggravated assault in the shooting that took place around 1 a.m. Saturday at the 4th Avenue Lounge in Jackson. He is reportedly being held in the Rankin County Jail. There was no information as to when Allen would make his initial court appearance.
According to the latest reports, Vicksburg Police Investigator Eddie Colbert was struck in the face by a stray bullet during the incident at the Jackson club. A security guard at the club, Eric Williams, was shot several times arguing with another man. Both Williams and Colbert remain hospitalized.
Colbert is in critical condition at University of Mississippi Medical Center. Officials with the Vicksburg Police Department and Colbert’s family said doctors are working to first wean Colbert off the ventilator before moving forward with his treatment, which will likely involve surgery.
“Never thought that I will be dealing with my husband being shot because I always look at him like my Superman,” Colbert’s wife, Quannette Colbert, said on Facebook Saturday. “It’s so hard for me to go to sleep without you being home with me. I always look for you to walk in the door when you have been out. Lord cover the love of my life. I’m staying strong for you even tho I’m numb inside but a strong man always needs a strong wife by his side. Just know you have one so many people love you and fighting with you. I will never leave your side.”
Colbert serves in the department’s Criminal Investigation Division and joined the Vicksburg Police Department in 2014. Prior to joining the Vicksburg Police Department, Colbert was part of the Hinds County Sheriff’s Office.
“We are praying for him and his family and hope he can recover from this,” Mayor George Flaggs Jr. said Saturday. “Chief (Milton) Moore contacted me early this morning about the shooting. I also received a call from the mayor of Jackson (Chokwe Lumumba) this morning to express his regret.”
Vicksburg Police Chief Milton Moore said he received a phone call from Lt. Johnnie Edwards at around 3 a.m. Saturday, notifying him of the shooting.
“Investigator Colbert is dependable and brings a wealth of knowledge to the job,” Moore said. “A lot of our young investigators depend on him to show them the ropes. We wish him a speedy recovery.”