Suspect dead after Vidalia standoff, deputy in stable condition

Authorities say a suspect involved in a standoff with officers in Vidalia on Thursday afternoon is dead and the standoff has ended.

According to the Concordia Parish Sheriff's Office, the standoff started after the suspect, later identified as Kaleb Melton, 21, shot a deputy, identified as Walter J. Mackel, at an apartment complex in Vidalia earlier Thursday. They were alerted at noon that the deputy had been shot.

Authorities said they were working an armed robbery investigation from earlier in the morning at the Vidalia Meadows Apartments. Officer Walter Mackel knocked on one of the apartment doors for questioning. During the course of the following interaction, gunfire was exchanged. As a result, Melton and a deputy were both shot.

CPSO said Melton was confined to one apartment. A SWAT team was brought in and a robot was used to find him.

People who live in the complex reported that they were not allowed into their homes while the standoff was underway.

According to the sheriff's office, Adam's County Sheriffs, Natchez PD, Vidalia PD, and Ferriday PD were on the scene. Louisiana State Police was also on the scene.

The injured deputy was airlifted to a hospital in Jackson, Mississippi and is in stable condition. Melton was pronounced dead at the scene.

The investigation remains active and ongoing and there is no further information available at this time.