OLIVE BRANCH, Miss. — Authorities say a north Mississippi man was shot and killed early Tuesday as law enforcement officers tried to arrest him in Olive Branch.
Byron "Big B" Kelley was among 22 Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas residents indicted by a Memphis federal grand jury on charges of illegally distributing prescription drugs.
Edward Stanton, U.S. attorney in Memphis, says Kelley, 32, shot at officers about 6 a.m. when they arrived to arrest him and search his house.
Kelley was shot and died at the scene, said DeSoto County Coroner Jeff Pounders.
Neither Stanton nor the DeSoto County Sheriff's Office would confirm that Kelley was shot by officers, although neighbors reported shooting.
Stanton referred questions to the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. MBI spokesman Warren Strain told The Associated Press he had no information.
Pounders said Kelley's body will be sent Wednesday to Jackson for an autopsy.
DeSoto County Sheriff Bill Rasco told The Commercial Appeal that none of his deputies was injured. Rasco said they were helping the Drug Enforcement Administration.
A federal grand jury issued a sealed two-count indictment last week against Kelley, accusing him of one count of conspiracy to possess and distribute oxycodone and one count of conspiracy to possess and distribute hydrocodone mixtures such as Lortab and Lorcet.