UPDATE: Brookhaven officers killed in the performance of their duties are remembered as heroes | New

Two police officers from Brookhaven died in a shootout while responding to a call for shots fired early Saturday morning.

Authorities have identified the agents as the cap. Zack Moak, 31, and policeman James White, 35, both of Lincoln County. White arrived at 630 N and 6 St St. first, followed by Moak.

"They are heroes and my heart goes out to all their families, to all their parents," Brookhaven Police Chief Kenneth Collins told a news conference. "You never know when it is your last day and I just want to thank all the men and women in the forces of order for their courage and for their service."

The suspect, Marquis Aaron Flowers, 25, of 426 E. Independence St., Brookhaven, was armed with a handgun. He was injured during the exchange of gunfire and is currently in a Jackson hospital.

"As far as we know, there has been no incident like this in the city of Brookhaven, and it's been several years since such an event happened," said Warren Strain, spokesperson for the city of Brookhaven. Mississippi Investigation Bureau.

Both officers wore body cameras and bullet-proof vests, Collins said.

"We will wait to see what that reveals," Strain said of the body video.

Moak joined the police force in 2015 and White recently joined the Brookhaven Police Force after working as a police officer in Monticello.

"These are two great people who lost their lives this morning in the line of duty," Collins said. "Under fire, they did their job. I am proud of both of them.

Flowers, the suspect, had previously pleaded guilty to eight counts of burglary on February 2, 2012. He had been sentenced to 14 years, nine times suspended.

In March 2017, Flowers, incarcerated at the jail and wearing an ankle monitor at the time, was charged with fleeing an officer of law enforcement in the county. d & # 39; Adams. This arrest followed another arrest for stealing a car in Natchez the previous month.

Others were interviewed as part of the investigation, but no charges have yet been filed, Strain said.

Collins said that the neighborhood where the shooting took place was "like any other city" and "as safe as any other city".

"When there is a crime, we must fight crime," Collins said.

The shootings took place less than a year and a half after Lincoln County Sheriff's Deputy William Durr and seven others were killed in a Memorial Day weekend shootout.

"That's what the forces of order do," Strain said. "They put their lives on the line every day … so we do not have to. Shake their hands, thank them every time you see them.