BILOXI (AP) — Indictments have been issued against four men accused of trying to help a suspect escape after the fatal shooting of a Mississippi police officer.
Wanya Toquest Atkinson, 20, Davian Atkinson, 21, Joshua Michael Kovach, 21, and Dalentez Latavian Brice, 20, were all indicted on charges of accessory after the fact to capital murder and hindering prosecution, news outlets reported. It’s unclear whether the four men have attorneys who can comment on their behalf.
According to a Harrison County grand jury, the four men are accused of helping Darian Atkinson, 19, evade police after the fatal shooting of Biloxi Police Officer Robert McKeithen in May outside the police station. Wanya Toquest Atkinson and Davian Atkinson are Darian Atkinson’s brothers.
A Biloxi detective previously said Darian Atkinson walked 8 miles (13 kilometers) from his mother’s home to the Biloxi police station May 5 with the goal of killing a police officer. Darian Atkinson was indicted in November on a capital murder charge. A trial date hasn’t been set.
A fifth man, Andre Sullivan, 18, pleaded guilty in December to accessory after the fact to capital murder. Sullivan previously told a judge that he gave Darian Atkinson a change of clothes, knowing he was being sought. Sullivan is to be sentenced after the charge against Darian Atkinson is resolved.