Hunter Elward, a Rankin County Sheriff’s deputy, was involved in multiple violent incidents yet kept his job for years. In February 2019, Elward fired eight shots during a standoff in Pelahatchie, killing 31-year-old Pierre Woods, who a lawsuit says had his hands up when officers opened fire. In July 2021, Elward allegedly tased 29-year-old Damien Cameron and knelt on his back for several minutes; Cameron died afterward, but a grand jury declined to indict Elward. Despite these allegations, Elward remained on the force until 2023, when he pleaded guilty to federal civil rights charges for torturing two other men.
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