Officer-involved shooting connected to disappearance, death of man

HINDS COUNTY, MS (WLBT) – The body of a missing Learned man has been found in rural Copiah County and an officer-involved shooting in Rankin County is connected to the case.

Qualls’ body was found in an abandoned building in rural Copiah County early Friday morning. An autopsy will be done to determine the cause of death.

Hinds County investigators have charged Joseph Zattoni, of Terry, with Capital Murder. Zattoni is being held at the Raymond Detention Center.

A Rankin County deputy was involved in an officer-involved shooting Thursday evening. Law enforcement sources say that that shooting is connected to this case.

47-year-old Stoney Dale Qualls went missing Wednesday morning after he left his Front Street home to help a stranded motorist who had run off the road near his home.

RELATED: SILVER ALERT: MBI is searching for missing Hinds County man

Hinds County officials say the person who ran off the road was Corey Harris. Qualls gave Harris a ride to Byram.

On Thursday, Qualls’ silver Dodge ram pickup truck was found burned on Bethesda Road in Copiah County.

The sheriff’s department originally named Harris as a person of interest in the case, although it is not yet clear if he still is. He has a criminal record and is currently on parole for grand larceny, shoplifting and felony fleeing.

Qualls’ body was found early Friday morning in an abandoned building in a rural area of Copiah County.

The Hinds Co. Sheriff’s Department arrested and charged a man named Joseph Zattoni with capital murder.

Zattoni is being held at the Raymond Detention Center.