A traffic stop on Monday night led to the shooting death of the driver, according to a statement released by the Oxford Police Department. Clay Tatum, 38 years old, was identified as the driver on Tuesday.
At approximately 11:29 p.m. on Monday, an OPD officer attempted to stop Tatum for a traffic violation, but Tatum did not yield to the officer, resulting in a pursuit. According to OPD, he fled the scene in his vehicle, but was later stopped. After being stopped, Tatum fled on foot toward a residence. In a statement, police chief Jeff McCutchen said Tatum entered the residence and pulled a weapon on officers. McCutchen said Tatum ignored several demands from officers to drop the weapon, so police opened fire on Tatum. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Just two months ago, OPD was involved in another shooting that killed Oxford resident Kenneth Dale Miller during a domestic violence situation. Miller allegedly pulled a gun on officers.
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation was “immediately contacted” by OPD and has since taken charge of the investigation. OPD officers have turned body cam footage over to the MBI.
