Hattiesburg, Mississippi- In a stunning turn of events, on Tuesday, March 11, 2024, Lamar County Sheriff told Donivan Barnes' family he will review the case by Wednesday, March 12, 2025 to see if other charges apply, including homicide and manslaughter.
Lamar County Sheriff Danny Rigel told the victim's family he will meet with county attorneys, investigators and others to review the entire case, see what statues may apply, and if other charges can be brought against Andrew David Cook. This comes as a sense of hope to thousands of both white and black people who've expressed their frustration and disappointment with this case sense hearing all charges have been dropped.
This past Friday, March 7, 2025, the Lamar County District Attorney's office dropped all charges against 25 year old Andrew David Cook for the killing of Donivan Barnes despite mounting evidence including a confession from both the suspect and his mother, Dr. Kimberly Walker Yawn, Donivan's blood and DNA all over Cook's truck, video evidence and more.
This sparked wide spread outrage not only throughout Mississippi, but in other places around the country, with a call for unity and justice from white and black people alike who felt like the justice system failed with many noting Donivan is black and the suspect, Andrew David Cook is white.
Many legal scholars who are familiar with the case said that according to Mississippi statue, suspect Cook should have been charged with homicide or at the very least, manslaughter since Donivan died in the act of either an accident or a crime, misdemeanor or felony. Others argue the charge could be upgraded to attempted murder or murder like in the exact same case as David Breland, a Forrest county man who was convicted of murder in the same city for the exact same crime.
Donivan's family, community, and people around the country are awaiting the Sheriff's decision to see if Donivan Barnes will get any justice in Hattiesburg, MS.
This is a developing story.
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