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BATESVILLE, Miss. (WREG-TV) -- Authorities in Batesville are investigating the death of Panola County's sheriff. John Champion from the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation says Hugh Bright's body was found at a friend's house around 2:00 p.m. Sunday.
Panola County Supervisor William "Bubba" Waldrup says Bright shot himself to death. He was taken to a Batesville hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Exact details of the shooting are still unclear, but Champion told News Channel 3 that the shooting wasn't work related.
Bright had been in law enforcement for 26 years, and had served as Panola County sheriff since 2006. News of the sheriff's death quickly spread across the county bringing out dozens of concerned citizens. The reality of sheriff's death is touching everyone in the small community.
"It is something the whole community is surprised by and I really hate it," said Panola County citizen Sallye House.
"Anytime you lose an officer it affects everybody and we're just trying to put the pieces together ourselves," said Batesville Chief Tony Jones.
A press conference is scheduled for Monday at 11:00 a.m., to release further details about this case.
- County official: Panola County Sheriff Hugh "Shot" Bright died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
- Mississippi DA: Shooting was not work related
- Press conference scheduled for Monday morning at 11 a.m.
BATESVILLE, Miss. (WREG-TV) -- Authorities in Batesville are investigating the death of Panola County's sheriff. John Champion from the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation says Hugh Bright's body was found at a friend's house around 2:00 p.m. Sunday.
Panola County Supervisor William "Bubba" Waldrup says Bright shot himself to death. He was taken to a Batesville hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Exact details of the shooting are still unclear, but Champion told News Channel 3 that the shooting wasn't work related.
Bright had been in law enforcement for 26 years, and had served as Panola County sheriff since 2006. News of the sheriff's death quickly spread across the county bringing out dozens of concerned citizens. The reality of sheriff's death is touching everyone in the small community.
"It is something the whole community is surprised by and I really hate it," said Panola County citizen Sallye House.
"Anytime you lose an officer it affects everybody and we're just trying to put the pieces together ourselves," said Batesville Chief Tony Jones.
A press conference is scheduled for Monday at 11:00 a.m., to release further details about this case.
