17 year old suspect in Christmas car chase wounded

Authorities are investigating an incident late on Christmas night that involved a car chase with an as of now unidentified 17-year-old suspect who was found unresponsive with a pistol and a gunshot wound to the head when law enforcement finally caught up to him, Philadelphia Police Chief Eric Lyons said.

He was transported to Anderson Hospital and later to the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, according to Lyons. 

”The juvenile was in critical condition at last check,” Lyons said. “MBI was contacted and notified of this incident. This case is still ongoing at this time. PD will have more information as it becomes available.”

Lyons did not confirm whether or not the juvenile suspect had been charged in relation to the incident.

Lyons said on Dec. 25, at approximately 11:19 p.m. a Philadelphia Police Officer noticed a vehicle parked in the parking lot of the Library with bullet holes in it and the rear window shot out. The officer made contact with the driver and attempted to identify him. 

The officer then observed an open container of alcohol in the console as well as the odor of what he believed to be marijuana coming from inside the vehicle and believed him to be under the influence, according to Lyons. The driver was later identified as a 17-year-old male. 

The officer returned to his vehicle and radioed for an additional officer to assist him, Lyons said. While doing so the juvenile sped off going the wrong way on Beacon Street. 

Officers pursued the vehicle as it turned onto Range Avenue and continued onto County Road 505. 

The vehicle then turned on Road 492 East and South onto Highway 19 towards Meridian. 

Approximately one mile onto Hwy 19, officers observed as the vehicle began to drift off the road and into the median before coming to a stop, Lyons reported. 

Officers from the Philadelphia Police Department and Neshoba County Sheriff’s Department approached the vehicle and noticed that the juvenile was unresponsive and bleeding from the head. Lyons said officers then burst the window to gain entry into the vehicle and observed a handgun in his lap. 

Officers realized that the blood was from a gunshot wound to the head. Officers rendered first aid to the juvenile while awaiting EMS who would then transport the juvenile to Anderson.