Lt. Troy Morris served 27 years as a state trooper with the Mississippi Highway Patrol. But on Sunday three suspects were in custody, charged with murdering Morris, who was killed while working his second job as a truck driver for the U.S. Postal Service.
Morris was killed early Friday while driving a USPS truck on U.S. Route 61 in Jefferson County, the Mississippi Highway Patrol said in a statement. Officers found Morris in the cab of the truck around 4:30 a.m.
Morris had notified the Jefferson County Sheriff’s department and Mississippi Highway Patrol that he had gotten a flat tire around 4 a.m., Jefferson County Sheriff James Bailey said during a news conference. A deputy subsequently found him dead.
Authorities so far have yet to disclose a motive. Morris worked for USPS part time.
Treyon Washington, 24, Damion Whittley, 25, and a 17-year-old have been charged with murder in connection with the killing. Washington was arrested in Mississippi, while Whitley and the other suspect were arrested in New Orleans, the Highway Patrol said on Saturday.
“He was a good man, friend, and a valuable member of this agency. He will truly be missed by the Mississippi Highway Patrol. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family,” Col. Randy Ginn, director of the Mississippi Highway Patrol, said in a statement.
USPS had posted a $105,000 reward with Crime Stoppers Mississippi for information leading to the arrest and capture of those responsible for Morris’ death.
Click for more FreightWaves articles by Nate Tabak.
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