Therese Apel

The Clarion-Ledger

Lincoln County authorities are looking into a double shooting that left a man dead and his wife in the hospital Saturday morning.

Sheriff Steve Rushing said Eugene Chester Hanks, 83, was found dead in his home when authorities got a call that an ambulance was needed at a residence on Furr's Mill Road.

Rushing said the call came in around 9:20 a.m. The caller couldn't go into detail about what the situation was, so deputies were dispatched to the home as well as medical responders.

When the first deputy arrived on scene, the door was open and he found a woman in the living room area. She had been shot in the chest. She told authorities her husband was in the bedroom and had been shot and was possibly deceased.

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Coroner Clay McMorris confirmed Hanks died after being shot in his home mid-morning Saturday.

Hanks' 81-year-old wife, whose name has not been released, is at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, where she underwent surgery Saturday.

"Based on her statement and information gathered at the scene, we don't believe there was anyone else involved in this incident," Rushing said.

Aquaintances of the family say Hanks had been dealing with medical issues.

The investigation is ongoing, Rushing said.

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Contact Therese Apel at 601-961-7236 or tapel@gannett.com . Follow her on Facebook and Twitter .