Arrest made in Jones County church shooting

The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI) has arrested Ryan Walters, a reserve deputy with the Jones County Sheriff’s Department, in connection to the shooting that happened on Sunday, April 2 at The Rock Pentecostal Church in Laurel, Mississippi.  Walters has been charged with second-degree murder.  

The shooting took place after Walters, a member of the church and its security team, was involved in an altercation with 45-year-old James Corey Donald. Walters was off-duty at the time of the incident.

MBI is currently investigating this critical incident and gathering evidence. Simpson County District Attorney, Chris Hennis, has been appointed by Jones County Circuit Judge Dal Williamson to oversee the prosecution of this case. Upon completing the investigation, agents will  share their findings with the Simpson County District Attorney’s Office. 

The sheriff’s department says Walters has been booked into the Jones County Adult Detention Facility.