Suspect identified in FBI agent shooting

Around 11 p.m. on Saturday, an FBI agent out of the FBI Jackson Field Office was shot in the line of duty by Demario Cotton after assisting Jackson police with a traffic stop.

The Jackson Police Department answered calls involving shots fired, which led officers to initiate a traffic stop on Cotton in the Oaklawn and El Paso Street area.

After being stopped by officers, Cotton exited his vehicle and began to open fire at the officers. An FBI agent was hit in the altercation and was taken to the University of Mississippi Medical Center for treatment. The agent has since been released from the hospital.

Cotton fled and escaped the scene in a dark colored Yukon. Cotton is actively being sought by authorities.

If anyone knows the whereabouts of Demario Cotton or has any information that can help investigators, please contact either the FBI Jackson Violent Crime Task Force at 601-948-5000 or the Central Mississippi Crime Stoppers at 601-355-8477.