Police Officer Finds Her Own Son Dead While Responding To Shooting Incident

A Mississippi police officer, responding to a fatal shooting incident over the weekend, broke down when she caught sight of her 20-year-old son lying lifeless in the middle of the street with a gunshot wound.

In the wee hours of Jan. 2, authorities were alerted of a shooting incident that took place on Larkin Street just a few blocks away from the Hazlehurst Police Department, according to NBC News. Officer Laquandia Cooley, the victim’s mother, joined the officers responding to the call without knowing who the victim was.

“We initially responded to the call, not knowing when I made it over there, the person was going to be my son that was laying there,” Cooley told NBC affiliate WLBT.

Cooley’s son, Charles Stewart Jr., was already dead by the time she arrived at the scene.

“As we get out, I look and I was like, ‘This is my son, this is my son.’ So, I literally just go into a break down you know? Like, why? Who would do this to my son?” Cooley said.

The grieving officer, who works for the Hazlehurst Police Department, said the sight of her son’s dead body is one she can never forget.

“I couldn’t even believe what I was seeing. I was seeing my own son laying there on the ground dead,” Cooley added. “It was pretty much a panic. It was just, it was too much.”

The events that led to the shooting are still unclear, according to the New York Post.

The victim was described by his father, Charles Stewart, as a good person. He got along with others and did not bother people, the father said, adding that this made it hard for him to believe his son would lose his life in such a tragic manner.

"It’s traumatizing for the whole family. We’re just trying to cope day to day,” Charles Stewart said. "Just trying to figure out why this happened and who could have done this."

Police Chief Darian Murray confirmed the incident and said the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation will take over the probe because the victim is an officer’s family member.