The second Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department deputy injured in a shooting last week has been released from the hospital.
Lt. Larry Swearingen was released Thursday from Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle, according to Chief Deputy Marc Miley.
Lt. Clint Sims, who was also injured in the shooting, was released earlier this week.
Sims and Swearingen suffered gunshot wounds last Tuesday when Kenneth “Kent” Coscia, 30, allegedly shot at them from behind the closed door of his New Hope home on Drake Circle.
Sims and Swearingen were part of the department’s Special Response Team that responded to Coscia’s home for a welfare check. SRT was involved in the welfare check because deputies knew Coscia was armed, according to department officials.
Sims was shot in the leg and Swearingen was shot in the stomach, according to Miley. Deputy Scott Glasgow also sustained injuries during the incident, Miley said. Coscia was arrested on scene. He was charged with three counts of aggravated assault against a law enforcement officer and one charge of shooting into an occupied dwelling. He received a bond of $3,050,000. He is currently in the custody of the Monroe County Detention Center in solitary confinement, according to Monroe County Sheriff Cecil Cantrell. According to Cantrell, Coscia does not yet have an attorney.
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is handling the case.
A benefit fund has been set up for the officers at local Cadence banks. Donations are also being accepted at the sheriff’s department.
Miley said he is thankful to the community for rallying around the department during such a difficult time.
“I just appreciate all of the community for the officers and all of the prayers that have been lifted up for them and the department,” he said.
Sarah Fowler covered crime, education and community related events for The Dispatch.
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