Domestic Dispute Creates Multi-Agency Response for a Reportedly Missing Child

VICKSBURG, Miss – A domestic dispute led to a multi-agency hours long search for a missing child.

At around 8:30 p.m. multiple units with the Vicksburg Police Department responded to the area of MLK, Jr and Mission 66 for a reported carjacking. A white Toyota Corolla with a Cannon paper tag and bullet holes in the vehicle was reported stolen. In the back seat of the vehicle was a 3 month old baby, according to the report. A multi-agency response ensued.

Units with the Sheriff’s Office and the Mississippi Highway Patrol were put on alert and seen working the area. Law enforcement in Louisiana was contacted along with neighboring counties.

The Vicksburg Daily News reported the breaking story in a live report. Shortly thereafter, several marked units with the VPD were seen turning on Feld Street, a couple blocks from the reported carjacking site. An alert reader of the Vicksburg Daily News saw the live report, looked outside and observed a vehicle matching the description of the missing vehicle.

That reader, a resident of Hill Street, called 911 prompting the large response. The vehicle was located on Hill Street, parallel to Feld Street. The child was not in the vehicle. A K-9 unit with the Warren County Sheriffs office assisted in the search for the child at the Hill Street location where the car was found.

Within an hour of locating the vehicle, Chief Jones contacted the Vicksburg Daily News to report the female who reported the carjacking had misrepresented the incident to law enforcement. A dispute with her boyfriend had became physical, according to her, led him to take the vehicle and leave her at a location on MLK. At that time the child was still reported missing.

Units with the VPD were reported at several locations around Vicksburg chasing possible leads of the child and boyfriend’s location. At 10:22 p.m. radio traffic indicated the child had been safely located.

According to a release from the Vicksburg Police Department, the child was never missing but was at a friends house.

Update from Chief Jones

At 12:54 a.m., Chief Jones issued this statement:

Clarification on Reported Carjacking Incident 2/7/2025

The Vicksburg Police Department would like to provide accurate information regarding an incident initially reported as a carjacking. After a thorough investigation, we have determined that this was a domestic-related dispute between two individuals in a relationship, not a carjacking.

The victim originally called 911 stating that her vehicle had been taken by a known suspect, later identified as her boyfriend. She provided the suspect’s name and a possible location but did not initially mention that a baby was involved. Officers later discovered that the baby may have already been with the victim’s friend at the time of the incident. The friend later took the baby to the victim’s mother after police became involved.

According to the victim’s statements, she and the suspect were in the vehicle together when an argument escalated into a physical altercation inside the car. They both exited the vehicle, continued arguing, and the suspect then got back in and drove away. This sequence of events does not meet the legal definition of carjacking. Instead, the case is being handled as a domestic violence incident, and warrants will be issued for the suspect.

Additionally, a video has surfaced on social media where the victim’s friend states that she had the baby and that the victim may have misrepresented the situation to authorities in an attempt to retrieve her car after the argument.

We understand the concerns of the community, especially given the initial report of a carjacking. However, we want to reassure everyone that there is no unknown carjacking suspect at large. This remains an ongoing investigation, and we appreciate the public’s patience as we ensure the facts are properly gathered and addressed.

The safety of our community is our priority, and we encourage everyone to rely on verified information from law enforcement.
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The Vicksburg Daily News will follow up with the Vicksburg Police Department to see if any charges will be filed for the false report and the massive multi-agency response of law enforcement.