Clarksdale IDs wounded officer, will ask feds for help with shootings

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Clarksdale, Mississippi officials identified an officer injured last week in a shootout, which also left a suspect dead, as Lt. Bradley Hillhouse.

The suspect has been identified as 32-year-old Ladarius Walls.

“Our officer, Lt. Hillhouse, is recovering well and it was fortunate that he was blessed to come out of the hospital,” Clarksdale Mayor Chuck Espy said. “Now he’s back with us here in our community and we’re thankful for that.”

City commissioners and the mayor met Monday for a special called board meeting to ask federal and state officials to assist Clarksdale in combating recent violence, with a heavy emphasis on mental health.

“Public safety is the top concern,” Espy said.

According to a meeting agenda, the board will ask Police Chief Robbie Linley to request assistance in writing from the ATF, MHP, MBN, DEA, and U.S. Marshals, and “to inform them of the increase in shootings and gang-related violence in the City of Clarksdale … “

One person was killed and Hillhouse wounded around 5 p.m. Friday when “an altercation occurred” between the officer and a subject at the scene of a traffic call.

The suspect fired a weapon, hitting the officer. The officer returned fire, hitting the suspect, police said. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is handling the case.

WREG has reported on several shootings this year in Clarksdale, which has a population of about 14,000.

On June 7, a “shooting rampage” left one dead and another injured. A 15-year-old was killed in a drive-by shooting Feb. 19.

Clarksdale Commissioner “Bo” Plunk stressed that Clarksdale is not the only Mississippi community facing crime issues.

“It’s a uptick in crime all over Mississippi,” Plunk said. “The other day they had a shooting in Hernando, this past weekend, couple of weeks ago, a shooting in Indianola.”

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.