Flags to fly at half-staff in honor of Lt. Michael Boutte Sr

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves on Friday decreed that flags will be lowered to half-staff statewide tomorrow- Tuesday in honor of Lt. Michael Boutte Sr., the Hancock County deputy who was killed in the line of duty earlier this week.

"Lieutenant Michael Boutte was a selfless and courageous police officer who dedicated his life to service," Reeves said in a social media statement. "In his honor, flags will be lowered to half-staff across the state on Tuesday, Feb. 9."

Boutte will be laid to rest on Tuesday with a funeral service at the Bay St. Louis Community Center. Visitation will be from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the community center, followed by the service at 11:30 a.m., with Lockett-Williams Mortuary in charge of arrangements. Private graveside services are scheduled later on Tuesday.

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office will stream the service live on its Facebook page at https://m.facebook.com/HancockCountySheriff/.

Boutte was shot and killed on Monday afternoon when he responded to a disturbance call in the Necaise Community.

The suspect, Joseph Rohrbacker, age 30, was shot and wounded by another deputy at the scene. He was airlifted to a hospital in New Orleans for treatment, and will be extradited back to Mississippi after he recovers.

The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is still in charge of the case.