Therese Apel

Clarion Ledger

The picture drawn by authorities of Rafael McCloud's last hours is a sketchy one, but reads like a movie script.

The escaped capital murder suspect, accused of one of Vicksburg's most gruesome murders in recent memory, had been on the run since Wednesday when he took a jailer hostage, stole his clothes at knifepoint, and disappeared into the downtown district.

On Thursday morning, around 4:30 a.m., police say he approached a 30-year-old man and his 5-year-old son who had gone to the garage to start his car in the 600 block of Fort Hill Road.

"He was pretty much given the bum's rush by the suspect," Chief Walter Armstrong said.

He threatened the man and forced his way inside the home, where Armstrong said he tied up the man. Armstrong said it was unclear if the man's wife, inside the home at the time, was tied up. The couple's child was also inside the house but was not tied up, Armstrong said.

When the 911 call came in around 7 a.m., McCloud was found dead, shot to death by the homeowners.

Armstrong said the husband was stabbed in the shoulder after he freed himself and fought with McCloud. The injury was non life-threatening, but he was hospitalized Thursday.

McCloud was reported to have held the family in the bathroom. At some point, the wife was allowed to leave the bathroom. She returned with a handgun and fired one shot believed to have struck McCloud. After the husband’s bounds were cut by the wife, the husband took control of the weapon and fired additional shots striking McCloud. The family then ran outside and flagged a motorist and asked them to call 911, according to a police news release.

McCloud was found in the bathtub with multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead by the Warren County Coroner. His body was transported to the Mississippi Crime Laboratory in Jackson for an autopsy.

"I hate that they had to go through that, but I’m very grateful and I thank God that no one was killed," Armstrong said.

The shooting was the topic of discussion among locals throughout the town. Residents have been concerned and frightened, knowing that police believed McCloud was still in the area. Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace said there had been possible sightings during the time of the search.

"We received multiple calls and tips," he said.

Neighbor Terry Kleinman said he was shaken by the incident because he didn't think McCloud was still in Vicksburg.

"It makes you want to make sure you know where all your guns and knives are," he said.

Police said there does not seem to be any connection between McCloud and the family. Kleinman said that he felt afraid knowing it could easily have happened at his house, right across the street.

"My mom goes to work earlier. If that had been two hours later that could have been us. That makes you feel eerie," he said.

McCloud, 34, was arrested last summer after the body of Sharen Wilson, 69, was found outside the abandoned Kuhn Memorial State Hospital. He was indicted in January by a Warren County grand jury for capital murder, burglary of a dwelling, rape, sexual battery without consent, attempted arson, larceny-motor vehicle and possession of a weapon after felony conviction in connection with Wilson's slaying.

Armstrong said it's under investigation whether McCloud had help in or after his escape.

"Rafael had on a pair of blue jeans and tennis shoes, That’s not part of the issued clothing at a jail cell," he said.

Authorities said it's a relief to have the search come to an end.

"It feels that I’m no longer working 15 hours a day, my staff is not working around the clock looking for this individual. We’ve exhausted a lot of man hours to find this escapee to make certain no one else was hurt or killed," Armstrong said.

There was a $2,500 Crimestoppers reward that was offered in connection with finding McCloud but, according to Crimestoppers rules, the family cannot collect the reward.

Contact Therese Apel at tapel@gannett.com. Follow @TRex21 on Twitter.

Reward for capital murder escapee over $27,000

On Thursday, March 10, 2016 around 0715 hours, Vicksburg Police were dispatched to the 600 block of Fort Hill Dr. Vicksburg, MS regarding a stabbing.

Officers arrived on scene and spoke with the homeowner (30 YOA) who reported, around 0400 hours he and his five year old son were leaving from inside of the house to the garage when they were approached by a male subject with a knife. The male subject forced them back inside the residence and questioned who else was inside the residence. The homeowner stated other than he and his son, his wife (24 YOA) was in the home.

According to the homeowner he was bound in the bathroom by the suspect. The homeowner said he was able to free himself, fought with the suspect and sustained a stab wound to the back side of his shoulder. The suspect was later identified as Raphael McCloud; McCloud took control of the homeowner.

McCloud was reported to have held the family in the bathroom, at which some point the wife was allowed to leave the bathroom; the wife returned with a handgun and fired one shot believing to strike McCloud. After the husband’s bounds were cut by the wife, the husband took control of the weapon and fired additional shots striking McCloud. The family then ran outside and flagged a motorist and asked them to call 911.

McCloud was found in the bathtub with multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead by the Warren County Coroner. His body was transported to the Mississippi Crime Laboratory in Jackson, Mississippi for an autopsy.

McCloud escaped from the Warren County Jail on Wednesday, March 2, 2016, he has been on the lam since his escape. City, county, state, and federal officers have been involved in the search for McCloud. McCloud was indicted for the death of Sharen Wilson which occurred on June 28, 2015. McCloud was charged with Murder, Rape, Burglary, Arson, Auto Theft and Felon in Possession of a Firearm.