Homicide

Mississippi city mourns 2 slain police officers as 4 suspects face first court appearance

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Mary Smith, the mother of brothers Marvin and Calvin Banks, who are both charged in the shooting deaths of two Hattiesburg police officers on Saturday night, speaks to reporters outside the Forrest County Courthouse in Hattiesburg, Miss., Monday, May 11, 2015. Older brother Marvin, 29, is charged with two counts of capital murder and his younger brother Curtis, 26, is charged with two counts of being an accessory to murder after the fact. Also involved are Joanie Calloway, 22, who is charged with two counts of capital murder and Cornelius Clark, 28, was arrested on a charge of obstruction of justice. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) (The Associated Press)

Reporters images reflect on the sun glasses of Mary Smith, the mother of brothers Marvin and Calvin Banks, who are both charged in the shooting deaths of two Hattiesburg police officers on Saturday night, as she speaks to reporters outside the Forrest County Courthouse in Hattiesburg, Miss., Monday, May 11, 2015. Older brother Marvin, 29, is charged with two counts of capital murder and his younger brother Curtis, 26, is charged with two counts of being an accessory to murder after the fact. Also involved are Joanie Calloway, 22, who is charged with two counts of capital murder and Cornelius Clark, 28, was arrested on a charge of obstruction of justice. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) (The Associated Press)

Mary Smith, the mother of brothers Marvin and Calvin Banks, who are both charged in the shooting deaths of two Hattiesburg police officers on Saturday night, speaks to reporters outside the Forrest County Courthouse in Hattiesburg, Miss., Monday, May 11, 2015. Older brother Marvin Banks, 29, is charged with two counts of capital murder and his younger brother Curtis Banks, 26, is charged with two counts of being an accessory to murder after the fact. Also involved are Joanie Calloway, 22, who is charged with two counts of capital murder and Cornelius Clark, 28, was arrested on a charge of obstruction of justice. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) (The Associated Press)

With lowered flags and prayers, a southern Mississippi city is mourning two police officers, while the four people arrested after their shooting deaths await an initial court appearance Monday.

Red roses decorated a chain-link fence Sunday near the spot where officers Benjamin Deen and Liquori Tate were killed, and worshippers remembered the men in a small brick church just a few dozen yards from the scene.

Nearby, bloodstains still marked the asphalt where gunfire erupted Saturday night during what authorities described as a routine traffic stop gone awry.

A memorial event is scheduled for the men at the city convention center Monday afternoon.