By Rupert Howell

Panola County Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Downs apparently took his own life early Saturday shortly after midnight at his Pittman Road home, located east of Batesville.

He was 32.

Funeral services are today at 2 p.m. at Batesville Junior High.

Interment will be at Liberty Hill Cemetery.

Wells Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Fellow deputies, neighbors and family converged on the deputy’s home minutes after the incident, a scene that eerily resembled a scene in  Batesville 10 months ago when Sheriff Hugh Wayne “Shot” Bright took  his own life also with a pistol.

Investigator Tim Douglas of the Mississippi Highway Patrol is investigating the shooting.

An autopsy was performed in Jackson.

Interim Sheriff Otis Griffin said Downs will “truly be missed.”

“There wasn’t anything in this world that I couldn’t have asked him to do that he wouldn’t do. The whole department loved Michael,”  Griffin said.

Chief Deputy Andy Estridge described Downs as “one of my best deputies.”

Griffin spoke with his staff following the incident and later said  there is always concern after the loss of a fellow officer. He noted that an organization made up of law enforcement volunteers is assisting with counseling.

Law Enforcement Alliance for Peer Support (LEAPS) representative Jimmy McCloud, with the Batesville Police Department, was on the scene with  Downs

 fellow deputies at the scene and Saturday morning.  

A certified peer counselor, McCloud said, “A lot of times, people  just need to talk,” and noted that volunteer psychologists arecalled if needed.

Downs is the son of William and Debbie Downs, and has one brother, Justin, all of Pittman Road.