On February 21, 1997, Jefferson Davis County deputies J.P. Rutland and Tommy Bourne were transporting a male inmate to begin a 40-year prison sentence.   They were also transporting a female inmate on this trip. About 20 minutes into the ride, while travelling 55 miles per hour the male inmate pulled a hidden handgun from between his legs and shot the two sheriff’s deputies in the back of the head and neck.  After killing the two sheriff’s deputies he ran off into the woods.

The female inmate alerted authorities to the killings and remained with the vehicle.

After a nearly 9 hour intense manhunt, which included state troopers, patrol helicopters and search dogs, the 21 year old male inmate was captured.

FBI agents and officers from several counties converged on the inmate after he was spotted with night vision equipment hiding in the woods behind a Jitney Jungle supermarket. He was arrested without incident.

“We had to just let our feelings go and believe the system would take care of him,” Mendenhall Police Chief Michael Mullins said.

The deputies still had their weapons on their bodies when they were found.

Prior to the murders of these deputies, the male inmate had been arrested just 3 years prior for aggravated assault charges in the shooting of a 32 year old. While free on bond, he shot and killed a 19 year old.

The patrol car utilized in transporting the inmates did not have a cage.

The male inmate was convicted of capital murder for killing Deputy Bourne and Deputy Rutland and was subsequently sentenced to death.

Deputy Bourne had served with the Jefferson Davis County Sheriff’s Department for one year. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, and a son.  He was also a  recurring guest on Mississippi Outdoors.

Deputy Rutland had served with the Jefferson Davis County Sheriff’s Department for two years and previously served with the Monticello Police Department and Pearl Police Department. He was survived by his wife, mother, and stepchildren.

During the regular session of the Mississippi Legislature, House Resolution 38 was adopted by the state and reads as follows:

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE LIVES OF TOMMY BOURNE AND J. P. RUTLAND, TWO JEFFERSON DAVIS COUNTY DEPUTIES WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE LINE OF DUTY, FOR THEIR DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE PROTECTION OF THE CITIZENS OF THEIR COMMUNITY.

WHEREAS, on Friday, February 21, 1997, the lives of Tommy Bourne and J. P. Rutland were violently cut short while transporting prisoners to the Rankin County Correctional Facility; and

WHEREAS, Tommy Bourne and J. P. Rutland were both dedicated lawmen who willingly put their lives on the line to protect the welfare of the people in their community; and

WHEREAS, the entire State of Mississippi was saddened and deeply moved by the loss of Tommy Bourne and J. P. Rutland and the families of these fallen officers of the law were given an enormous amount of support and prayers in their time of grief; and

WHEREAS, J. P. Rutland, who had been a Deputy Sheriff for Jefferson Davis County since January 1996, was a former Police Chief in Monticello, a Deputy Sheriff for Lawrence County, and a member of the Pearl, Mississippi, Police Force; and

WHEREAS, J. P. Rutland, was the son of Leslie Rutland and Alice Hedgepeth Rutland; and

WHEREAS, J. P. Rutland is survived by his wife, Linda McLeod Rutland of Prentiss; two sons, James C. Rutland and Darrell Rutland, both of Pearl; one daughter, Judy Gail Rutland of Pearl; one stepson, Brad Dunaway of Prentiss; his mother, Alice Rutland of Raymond; one brother, L. J. Rutland of Raymond; and he was preceded in death by his father, Leslie Rutland; a sister, Annette Speights, and a stepdaughter, Leslie Dunaway; and

WHEREAS, Tommy Bourne, who was a native of Franklin County, Mississippi, was the son of T. R. (Pat) Bourne and Louise Speights Bourne; and

WHEREAS, Tommy Bourne had been a Deputy Sheriff for Jefferson Davis County for six months before his life was so cruelly cut short; and

WHEREAS, Tommy Bourne, who was a 1974 graduate of Prentiss Christian School, attended Pearl River Community College, was an avid turkey hunter, a champion Turkey Caller for the State of Mississippi, founder and former President of the Miss/Lou Wild Turkey Foundation and had been a hunting guide for several years; and

WHEREAS, Tommy Bourne, whose dedicated participation in the lives of other members of his community will be greatly missed, was a girls softball coach; and

WHEREAS, Tommy Bourne was survived by his wife, Pam Hurst Bourne of Prentiss; one son, Pat Bourne of Prentiss; two daughters, Shields Bourne and Leigh Bourne, both of Prentiss; his mother, Louise Bourne of Prentiss; one brother, Jimmy Ray Bourne of Prentiss; and two sisters, Priscilla Arnold and Patty Jo May, both of Natchez:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend the lives of Deputy Sheriffs Tommy Bourne and J. P. Rutland who lost their lives in the line of duty.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the families of Tommy Bourne and J. P. Rutland and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.

On February 21, 2019, The Jefferson Davis County Board of Supervisors in conjunction with the Jefferson Davis County Sheriff have unveiled a monument in front of the Jefferson Davis County Courthouse honoring and in memory of fallen Sheriff Deputies Tommy Bourne and J.P. Rutland who were killed in the line of duty on the same day 22 years prior.