Mississippi police officer killed in the line of duty was from Tuscaloosa

MERIDIAN, Miss. — A police officer with Tuscaloosa ties has died along with one other person after an officer-involved shooting Thursday in an eastern Mississippi city, authorities said.

The Mississippi Highway Patrol said Friday that a suspect has been taken into custody in connection with the fatal shooting of Meridian Police Officer Kennis Croom.

Croom, the 30-year-old son of ex-Tuscaloosa City Clerk Tracy Croom, was born and raised in Tuscaloosa.

Kennis Croom also is the nephew of Sylvester Croom, the former University of Alabama standout offensive lineman and former head coach of Mississippi State University.

"It's difficult to find the words to express how heartbreaking the loss of the life of this hero is," said Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox. "Officer Croom died a hero in the line of duty, serving and protecting the city of Meridian (Thursday) evening."

Maddox said that he and Tuscaloosa Police Chief Brent Blankley have chosen to treat the funeral of Kennis Croom, whose body is expected to be transported Friday afternoon back to Tuscaloosa, as if it was that for a Tuscaloosa police officer.

City buildings also will be lighted in blue in honor of Kennis Croom starting Friday at sundown, the mayor said.

"Please join me in holding his family, friends, and the men and women of the Meridian Police Department in your prayers," Maddox said.

The Tuscaloosa Police Department also issued a statement on Facebook:

"We are devastated by the line-of-duty death of Meridian Police Officer Kennis Croom, who grew up in Tuscaloosa. Our thoughts are with the Croom family and the men and women of the Meridian Police Department tonight, and in the upcoming days, weeks and months as they struggle to heal from this tragedy.

"Officer Croom served his community with bravery and selflessness. His sacrifice will not be forgotten."

The Tuscaloosa County Emergency Management Agency posted about Croom on its social media pages:

"With deep sadness, we mourn the line of duty death of Officer Kennis Croom, of the Meridian MS Police Department, brother of TCEMA Deputy Director Tamara Croom. The Croom Family asks that donations be made in Kennis’ honor to the Croom Family Foundation https://thecroomfoundation.com/donate."

The Mississippi Highway Patrol said Friday that Dante Marquez Bender, 31, was taken into custody but didn’t provide additional details.

The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation said in a statement that the officer and a “deceased female” were both found at the scene on a Meridian avenue.

Meridian, a city of more than 40,000, is about 95 miles west of Tuscaloosa.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Mississippi police officer killed in line of duty was from Tuscaloosa