The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is assisting the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department in the nationwide search for a man wanted for murder and aggravated assault in Mississippi.

The suspect is identified as Alex Bridges Deaton, 28, and is described as a white male, 5-feet-9, weighing 170 pounds with hazel eyes and brown hair.

Deaton is considered armed and extremely dangerous.

“If anyone comes in contact with Deaton they should not attempt to engage him but contact authorities,” said Warren Strain, communication director for the Mississippi Department of Public Safety.

On Friday around 5 a.m., the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department received a 911 call from a woman who had been shot while jogging along Castlewoods Boulevard in Rankin County. During the investigation, the victim said a white male with facial hair driving a small white SUV shot her from his driver’s window, striking her in the thigh.

About 4:20 p.m. Friday, deputies received a request to do a welfare check on a resident at Vineyards Apartments off Vine Drive near Castlewoods subdivision. A deputy along with a family member found the 30-year-old female dead inside the apartment.

The woman’s white 2012 GMC Arcadia SUV was missing, Strain said. Deaton is the boyfriend of the deceased victim, he said.

Deaton is believed to be still driving the GMC  bearing a Mississippi Nurses Foundation license plate with the tag number F396 NF.

To report information about Deaton, contact authorities through 911, the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department at 601-825-1480, or Crime Stoppers at 601-355-8477, or www.p2tips.com. Crime Stoppers is offering a $2,500.00 reward for information leading to the arrest of Deaton.