WPSO Investigates Sunday Evening Stabbing / Assailant In Custody in Walthall County, MS

In the evening hours of Sunday (August 27, 2023), Deputy Blaine Polk of the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office responded to a distress call on Elmer Magee Rd regarding a stabbing incident.

Upon arrival, Deputy Polk engaged with the victim, 40 year-old Anthony Magee, who reported being attacked and stabbed in the face by 21 year-old David Tyler Dufrene. Anthony recounted that he was walking along the road near his residence on Elmer Magee when he encountered David also walking in the vicinity. Anthony approached David with the intention of greeting him, but to his surprise, David swiftly struck him in the face with a concealed blade. The attack left Anthony with a severe laceration near his eye. Immediately after the assault, Dufrene fled the scene in a white truck. WPSO contacted Northshore EMS due to the severity of Anthony's injuries. Subsequently, Anthony was transported to Lakeview Hospital for medical attention.

During the course of the investigation, two witnesses came forward, corroborating Magee's account of the incident. All witnesses, including the victim, identified the assailant as David Tyler Dufrene and cited prior interactions with him.

While at the scene, Deputy Polk and Deputy Russel Walker received information from Dufrene's sister and mother, who were in contact with him. His whereabouts were traced to Walthall County, Mississippi, through a call with his mother. A teletype was dispatched to the Walthall County Sheriff's Office and Dufrene was located and apprehended by the Wathall County Sheriff's Department. A detention report was filed, and the subject is currently in custody.