'I AIN'T FIT TO LIVE'
Mississippi shooting suspect’s rant ‘after killing EIGHT people’ as picture emerges of hero cop slain in rampage
The shooting spree took place across three different homes
A SUSPECTED shooter arrested after eight people were shot dead in Mississippi, including a police officer, told an eyewitness: "I ain't fit to live, not after what I done."
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation said the shooting spree took place in rural Lincoln County on Saturday night.
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Cops said that the shooting took place across three different properties, and the suspect has been named as Corey Godbolt.
The first shooting was at the home of Vincent Mitchell. Four bodies, three women and the deputy, were recovered there, according to .
Mr Mitchell said: "I honestly believe he came to kill everybody in the house.
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"I honestly believe that."
"When he shot the deputy he started shooting. He just started shooting."
Mr Mitchell said his wife Barbara, her sister and his stepdaughter, the sister of Godbolt's wife were killed there.
Godbolt showed up at Mitchell's home in the southern Mississippi town of Bogue Chitto shortly before midnight Saturday to demand that his estranged wife give up their two children
"He'd come to get his kids. The deputy was called," and asked him to leave, and it seemed like Godbolt would comply at first, Mitchell said.
"He acted like, motioned like, he was fixing to go. Then he reached in his back pocket and grabbed a gun," Mitchell said. "He just started shooting everything."
Mr Mitchell, Godbolt's wife and her two young children escaped through a broken window.
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Family members of the victims said Godbolt then took a hostage, forcing them to drive him to the next two crime scenes.
One of the victims has been identified as Lincoln County Deputy William Durr, 36, who was remembered as a "child of God" by friends.
In footage taken by a journalist at the scene of the arrest, Mr Godbolt was heard saying: "I was having a conversation with [my wife's] stepdaddy and her mama and her, my wife, about me taking my children home.
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"Somebody called the officer, people that didn’t even live at the house.
"That’s what they do. They intervene.
"My intentions was to have God kill me. I ran out of bullets. Suicide by cop was my intention."
Deputy Durr served as a youth minister and a mental health technician before starting his career as a cop, according to .
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Durr, 36, was married and had an 11-year-old son, Lincoln County Sheriff Steve Rushing said.
Off duty, he was a ventriloquist who took his puppets to schools and churches.
Two weeks ago, Durr entertained preschoolers at Brookhaven Academy, a Christian school in town.
The message he shared was that like fireflies people can use their inner light to help those around them.
His friend Nathan Case wrote on Facebook: "Over the years, life had drawn us together in several different ways.
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"Each time, we would pick up with the retelling of childhood memories that always brought a smile to our face.
"His laughter was contagious.
"I will remember William Durr as an officer, husband, father, ventriloquist, and friend.
"But I will never forget him as a brother in Christ."
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Cops have not released the names of all the victims and their relationship to Godbolt, but a New Zion Union M. B. Church's Facebook page posted a list of eight people - Deputy Durr, Barbara Mitchell, Toccara May, Brenda May, Jordan Blackwell, Austin Edwards, Shelia Burage and Ferral Burage.
Authorities gave no details on his relationship to the victims, but a member of Godbolt's church told the AP that everyone but the deputy was related to Godbolt by blood or marriage.
Officers are now gathering evidence at the crime scenes.
The arrested suspect is yet to be charged.
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Governor Phil Bryant said: "Every day, the men and women who wear the badge make some measure of sacrifice to protect and serve their communities.
"Too often, we lose one of our finest.
"I thank the law enforcement agencies involved for their hard work."
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