Mississippi Lawmaker Shot to Death

A state legislator died after being found in his yard with a gunshot wound to the head, authorities said Saturday.

Rep. Joel Netherland, 56, a Republican, was found shot in his yard Friday afternoon after a neighbor boy heard the gunfire. The lawmaker later was pronounced dead at St. Dominic-Jackson Memorial Hospital.

A autopsy was performed Saturday, but results were not available. The cause of the shooting wasn’t known, officials said.

“We are still investigating the situation,” said Lt. Michael Wallace. “No details will be released until we have all our questions answered.”

Netherland had served in the Legislature since 1984 and was chairman of the House Game and Fish Committee.

He ran unopposed in the Aug. 4 GOP primary and was to face Democrat Thomas E. Johnson in the Nov. 3 general election.