Shali Davenport and Debra A. Washington die in fatal Jackson car crash

Shali Davenport and Debra A. Washington die in fatal Jackson car crash

Fatal Jackson car crash death of Shali Davenport and Debra A. Washington

A vehicular pursuit that originated from a retail theft incident in Terry has concluded in a deadly collision in Jackson, resulting in the deaths of two individuals and one person requiring hospitalization. The sequence began when law enforcement was dispatched to a Dollar General outlet following an alarm for shoplifting.

Law officers from Terry initially addressed the theft at the store, where a suspect allegedly removed multiple packs of tobacco products. Authorities later indicated the individual was thought to be in possession of a weapon, leading to the involvement of Hinds County deputies and nearby agencies like the Byram police.

A supervisor from the Byram force identified the suspect’s automobile—a brown or gold Ford Expedition—heading north on Interstate 55. The driver initially stopped but then accelerated away when questioned and ordered to exit the vehicle.

The chase continued into Jackson, culminating in a collision at the junction of Raymond Road and Robinson Road. The involved car was a 2014 black Nissan.

Inside the Nissan were Shali Davenport, aged 48, and her mother, Debra A. Washington, who was 66. Both women perished in the crash. A third passenger sustained injuries, though they were not severe, and was transported to a medical center.

The suspect, whose vehicle was involved, was taken to a hospital and is currently being held by law enforcement.

Chief Errington expressed profound regret, stating that if the suspect had complied and pulled over, he would have faced a minor citation and released from custody quickly. “This situation is devastating and lacks any simple explanation,” he remarked to reporters.

The Mississippi Highway Patrol is spearheading the investigation, with support from the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. No details about the suspect have been disclosed, and the matter is still being examined.