Cops say don’t pull over for highway patrol to avoid Mississippi 'fake cop' killer



Police have warned motorists to be cautious while being pulled over on the highway after two people were killed by someone suspected to be posing as law enforcement late at night.

'We urge everyone to be cautious while driving, especially at night,' the Tate County Sheriff's Office posted on their Facebook page.



'If someone attempts to pull you over with flashing lights and you feel unsure of stopping, DON'T PULL OVER. Use your cell phone and dial 911 and if it's a real officer then the dispatcher will confirm it for you and if it's not a real officer they will send help to you.



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Questions: Authorities were investigating whether the suspect was impersonating an officer and that is how the people ended up on the side of the road

Advice: Police advised motorists concerned about stopping for a law enforcement vehicle to call 911 to confirm that the traffic stop was legitimate

'Our deputies have been told not to overreact if someone does not immediately pull over. Your safety is our primary concern.'

Investigators were still not releasing many details, including whether they believe a single gunman is responsible or what type of weapon was used, said DeSoto County district attorney John Champion. Champion said the shootings are related, but there is no evidence to suggest that the victims knew each other.



'We do not have any witnesses at this point,' Champion said. 'We're asking the community for help.'

Thomas Schlender, 74, of Raymond, Nebraska, was found in his car on Interstate 55 in Panola County on May 8 about 1:30 a.m. Three days later, Lori Anne Carswell, 48, of Hernando, was found near her car on Mississippi Highway 713 in nearby Tunica County about 2:15 a.m.



Carswell just left work from Fitzgerald's Casino, also known as the Fitz Casino, in Tunica County, Champion said.

The interstate is more heavily traveled than the state highway where Carswell was found, but both areas are low-lying along the river with plenty of open fields in the northern part of the state.



Shot dead: Thomas Schlender, 74, of Raymond, Nebraska, (left) was found in his car on Interstate 55 in Panola County on May 8 about 1:30 a.m

Tragedy: Tracy Anderson, Schlender's daughter, and her husband Matthew are mourning the loss of the 74-year-old

Authorities were investigating whether the suspect was impersonating an officer and that is how the people ended up on the side of the road, said Mississippi Bureau of Investigation director Larry Waggoner.



Champion acknowledged those rumors and did not rule out that theory. He advised motorists concerned about stopping for a law enforcement vehicle to call 911 to confirm that the traffic stop was legitimate. He said motorists also should put on their flashing hazard lights and drive to a safe, well-lit area until they receive notice that the stop was real.

Tunica County is most known for its casinos on the Mississippi River but law enforcement did not indicate any link to the businesses. Asked whether the situation could hurt the area's ability to lure tourists, Champion said, 'I'm not concerned about the casino business.'



Champion also said when asked that it was not obvious that any items were missing from the victims.



But Schlender's son-in-law told Fox News that the 74-year-old's wallet was stolen, and Carswell 's purse was stolen too, according to the channel.



The sheriffs of DeSoto, Tunica and Coahoma counties are working together and law enforcement was saturating the area to find the suspect.



Investigation: DeSoto County district attorney John Champion said the shootings are related, but there is no evidence to suggest that the victims knew each other

'The last thing that we want to do is to create a panic out there,' Champion said.



Both cars were found on remote stretches of highway and neither appeared to have had mechanical problems, said Mississippi Department of Public Safety spokesman Warren Strain.



Shell casings were found at the scene of both shootings and were being analyzed.

The motive is still under investigation. Both cars were red, but Strain said that could be a coincidence.



Carswell's 1997 Pontiac Grand Am was found on the shoulder of the highway, but her body was found in the road near the intersection of Mississippi 713 and Interstate 69. She was returning home to nearby Hernando from work, police said.



'We don't know how she wound up outside of the vehicle, but she was out of the car,' Strain said.



Mississippi Highway Patrol spokesman Joey Miller said last week that Schlender's body was found in his car, which crashed into a divider in the median. He was alone in the 1999 Ford F-150 and no other motorists were hurt. He was driving from Nebraska to Florida to pick up his grandson, authorities said.



Miller has said five shell casings were found on the interstate after that shooting.

'He was a really good man and he didn't deserve what happened, whatever that was,' Schlender's daughter Tracy Anderson told ABCNews.com . 'Our minds go crazy with the possibilities and the theories.'

Schlender, who has three daughters, 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, was a care for his wife who suffered a stroke seven years ago, according to the channel.

'The emotional rollercoaster has been pretty terrible,' Anderson told ABCNews.com. 'I want to see whoever did this get caught and justice for my dad and for this second lady and hopefully no more [killings].'



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