HATTIESBURG, Miss.- The total count of arrests in the case of the murders of Hattiesburg Police Officers Benjamin Deen and Liquori Tate is now at seven. Police arrested 21-year-old Douglas McPhail along with 19-year-old Anquanette Alexander on Friday on charges of obstruction of justice. McPhail has been booked into the Forrest County Jail.
The initial four arrested, Marvin and Curtis Banks, Cornelius Clark and Joanie Calloway, made their initial court appearances Monday. Abram Franklin had his initial appearance of Friday, his bond was set at $75,000.
Police had been searching for the murder weapon since Monday. WDAM reports they brought Marvin Banks on Tuesday down to the section of Leaf River down the railroad tracks where he ditched the police cruiser, but the gun was not where he said it was. It was discovered on Friday when a maintenance crew was cutting grass along Railroad Street.
The weapon recovered was a .40 caliber Smith & Wesson handgun.
The State Crime Lab in Biloxi tested it and the ballistics confirmed it was the weapon used in the shooting of the officers.
