A teenager in Mississippi is accused of breaking into an elderly couple’s home and fatally attacking them, leading to a tense standoff with law enforcement, according to investigators.
The suspect, 17-year-old Cordarius Hobbs, is alleged to have unlawfully entered the residence of Billy Blair, 74, and his wife Virginia Carol Blair, 71, in Mendenhall, Mississippi, on June 3. Both were reportedly killed during the incident, as reported by WLBT.
Authorities from the Simpson County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene around 12:24 p.m. on June 3, after relatives were unable to contact the couple. Upon arrival, deputies reportedly encountered gunfire directed at them from within the home.
Bailey Martin, a spokesperson for the Department of Public Safety, noted that the deputies stumbled upon an active burglary. She further explained that both law enforcement officials and civilians in the vicinity found themselves under heavy gunfire.
Billy Blair and Virginia Blair were killed on June 3. (Family Handout)
While Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey said the 17-year-old suspect told law enforcement that he’d surrender at the front door, he instead ran out through the back of the house, causing a chase. He said one deputy was shot.
Hobbs was eventually arrested after being shot by a Mississippi state trooper and was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Cordarius Hobbs faces murder charges in addition to several more felonies. (Rankin County Jail)
He was charged with two counts of capital murder, one count of burglary, four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, four counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and two counts of aggravated assault over 65 years old.
In a statement on Facebook, the couple’s family said, “We are crushed in spirit, bruised, and brokenhearted, but we are not alone.”
Cordarius Hobbs allegedly killed both Billy Blair and Virginia Blair. (Rankin County Jail)
Jason Busby, who was friends with the couple, remembered them as being extremely selfless when speaking with WLBT.
“The man would’ve given you the shirt off his back, his wife is the same, and they’re just great people. It’s just a tragedy,” Busby said. “Everybody around here is still in shock. They were just good people.”
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