On the quiet, early morning of August 7, 2020, Mississippi Highway Patrol Lieutenant Troy Morris, a 58-year-old man, found himself on the side of U.S. Highway 61 in Jefferson County, Mississippi, with a flat tire on the U.S. Postal Service truck he was driving as part of a second job. A 27-year veteran of the highway patrol, Lt. Morris was a familiar and respected figure in his community. As he was attending to the disabled vehicle around 4:30 a.m., he was tragically shot and killed.
He was discovered deceased inside the delivery truck.
The initial hours after the discovery were filled with shock and a profound sense of loss among his colleagues in law enforcement, who immediately launched an intensive investigation into the senseless act of violence. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, along with local, state, and federal partners, worked tirelessly to piece together the events that led to the death of the dedicated public servant. Their efforts were bolstered by a significant reward offered for information that would lead to the capture and conviction of those responsible.
The investigation swiftly led to the identification of three suspects. Treyon Washington, 24, was apprehended in Jefferson County. Two other individuals, 25-year-old Damion Whittley and 17-year-old Cdarrius Norman, were located and arrested in New Orleans, Louisiana. All three were charged with murder in connection with the death of Lt. Morris.
In the subsequent legal proceedings, one of the men responsible for the untimely death of Lt. Morris was brought to justice. In June 2022, Damion Whittley pleaded guilty to depraved heart murder. He received a sentence of 40 years in prison, with 30 of those years to be served without the possibility of parole. The resolution of the case brought a measure of closure to the family of Lt. Troy Morris and the law enforcement community that had mourned his loss so deeply.
