2 police officers Benjamin Deen, 34, and Liquori Tate, 24 shot dead in Mississippi; suspects in custody

Two police officers were shot dead in Mississippi late Saturday. It was the first time in 30 years that an officer was killed in the line of duty in Hattiesburg, the mayor said.

Officers Benjamin J. Deen, 34, and Liquori Tate, 24, were making a traffic stop when they were shot, Mayor Johnny DuPree said.

They were taken to a hospital, but did not survive.

“The men and women who go out every day to protect us, the men and women who go out every day to make sure that we are safe, were tued on tonight,” DuPree said.

Police have apprehended two suspects, Marvin Banks and Curtis Banks, he said.

Charged: Marvin Banks (left), 29, and his 22-year-old girlfriend Joanie Calloway were charged with two counts of capital murder in the deaths of two Hattiesburg, Mississippi cops shot during a Saturday night traffic stop

After the shooting, the suspects stole a police vehicle, which they used to flee. It was later found abandoned, according to CNN affiliate WDAM. The two men both have criminal records.

Police also took a woman into custody who was with the suspects at the time of the shooting, WDAM reported. They have not said whether she was involved. DuPree told CNN a third suspect was taken into custody, but did not disclose the gender.

'No sir, I didn't do it': Curtis Banks defended his innocence to reporters as he was dragged away by police on Sunday. He was not charged with murder

Deen was named the city’s officer of the year in 2012, according to The Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, Mississippi. Tate had recently graduated from the police academy.

Deen leaves behind a wife and two children. Tate was not married and had no children, DuPree said.

Officer of the year: Benjamin Deen, a decorated K9 officer, was named the Hattiesburg officer of the year in 2012

Tragic: Tate and his fellow officer on the Hattiesburg police force, Officer Benjamin Deen, were shot during a routine traffic stop. They were both pronounced dead shortly after arriving to a local hospital late Saturday

 

Officer of the year: Benjamin Deen, a decorated K9 officer, was named the Hattiesburg officer of the year in 2012

Slain: Liquori Tate was just 25 and a year out of police academy when he was murdered during a Mississippi traffic stop on Saturday night

 

Local law enforcement officials investigating the scene of a shooting on Saturday in Hattiesburg, Mississippi

 

Rookie cop: Liquori had not even served on the Hattiesburg police force a full year when he was gunned down Saturday

After visiting the crime scene, the mayor went to the hospital, where he tended to family members until early Sunday.

“You have to search for words you say to family members how much we love them; we are here to support them,” he said. The city is making grief counselors available to the slain men’s fellow officers.

 

Joanie Calloway, 22, (pictured right and left) was in a gold Cadillac Escalade along with the Banks brothers at the time of the murders, police say. She's since been charged with two counts of capital murder

DuPree vowed that the perpetrators of the attack would face justice.

Police in Oxford, Mississippi, sent out condolences in a tweet.

“Both Hattiesburg Police Officers have died. Terrible. Prayers to the entire community and families,” it read.