COVINGTON COUNTY — Two brothers sought in connection with the shooting of a Covington County deputy were taken into custody around 1 a.m. Tuesday, ending an hourslong manhunt that stretched across multiple counties.
Covington County Sheriff’s Department identified the suspects as 19-year-old Cortavion Hobbs and his brother, Cortavious Hobbs. Authorities had spent Monday afternoon and evening searching for the pair after a deputy was shot during a traffic stop near Mt. Olive.
The shooting occurred around 2:45 p.m. Monday when a Covington County deputy attempted to stop a vehicle. According to Perkins, the driver refused to stop, leading deputies down U.S. Highway 49 before turning onto a gravel road near Greer’s CashSaver in Mt. Olive, near the Covington, Smith and Simpson county lines.
During interactions with the suspects, the deputy was shot.
Authorities said the bullet struck the deputy above his protective vest and beneath his arm, causing life-threatening injuries. The deputy was transported to Forrest General Hospital, where he remains in stable condition.
A second deputy who was providing backup returned fire during the encounter and was not injured.
The two are the brothers of Cordarius Hobbs, who was charged with capital murder in connection with the deaths of a married couple during a standoff in Simpson County last week.
Authorities said the suspects’ mother identified both Cortavion and Cortavious Hobbs as her sons during a conversation with Chief Deputy Ricky Lott.
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation initially issued Blue Alerts for Cortavion Hobbs and 19-year-old Zykerian Magee following the shooting. However, the Covington County Sheriff’s Office later announced that Magee turned himself in and, after being interviewed by investigators, was determined to have been misidentified. Magee was cleared as a suspect and released from consideration in the case.
Additional charges against Cortavion and Cortavious Hobbs are expected as the investigation continues. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is assisting in the case.
