Investigators: Miss. murder suspect took detective's gun, shot the officer and then himself

Law enforcement officers wait at the entrance to the Jackson Police Department Thursday, April, 4, 2013, after police say a murder suspect fatally shot detective Eric Smith inside the headquarters. The suspect is also dead. (AP Photo/The Clarion-Ledger, Greg Jenson) (The Associated Press)

prev next

Jackson, Miss. Assistant Chief Lee Vance, center left, comforts Chief Rebecca Coleman, center right, Thursday, April, 4, 2013, after detective Eric Smith was shot and killed inside the Jackson Police Department. A suspect was also killed. (AP Photo/The Clarion-Ledger, Greg Jenson) (The Associated Press)

In this 2008 image provided by the Jackson, Miss. Police, Detective Eric Smith, center, flanked by Chief Rebecca Coleman, left, and Assistant Chief Lee Vance accepts the Certificate of Commendation on behalf of Detective Amos Clinton in Jackson, Miss. Authorities say a murder suspect shot Smith inside the Jackson police headquarters and that both the suspect and detective are dead. (AP Photo/Jackson Police) (The Associated Press)

JACKSON, Miss. – A Mississippi murder suspect used a detective's gun to kill the detective and then himself inside police headquarters.

Mississippi Bureau of Investigation spokesman Warren Strain said Friday that 23-year-old Jeremy Powell overpowered Jackson Police Detective Eric Smith, took his service weapon and shot Smith. Powell then shot himself.

Officials are slowly releasing details of how the men died Thursday. The state agency took over the investigation from the Jackson Police Department.

Powell was being questioned in connection with the stabbing death earlier this week of a 20-year-old Jackson man.

Autopsies were to be performed Friday.

Officials continue to mourn the death of Smith, a 40-year-old detective who investigated a number of high-profile murder cases in Mississippi's largest city.