Lamar County Sheriff Danny Rigel Decides Andrew David Cook Will Not Face Any Charges For Killing 26 year old Black Man Donivan Barnes Despite Evidence Including Suspect Confession

To follow along with this special investigation of The Donivan Barnes' Case, see exclusive evidence, hear directly from witnesses & lawyers, share your insight on the case, see the timeline of events, and talk directly to the victim's family as we uncover the truth and investigate this story all in a private THN (Hattiesburg News) Jail & Crime Group,  click here. (Warning: Some images and videos may be graphic.)

Lamar County Sheriff Danny Rigel

Hattiesburg, Miss- Lamar County Sheriff Danny Rigel told Donivan Barnes family that he has made his decision not charge suspect Andrew David Cook with any other charges in the Friday, October 6, 2023 killing of Donivan Barnes, a 26 year old black man from Hattiesburg, MS.

The sheriff said told the family he has "turned this case upside down" and based on the evidence in the case file that his officers created, there is not enough evidence to charge Andrew David Cook with any more charges including murder, manslaughter, vehicular homicide, attempted murder, or aggravated vehicular homicide.

Mississippi law requires a person to be charged with homicide, the unlawful killing of a human being without the authority of the law, if someone is killed, whether intentional or unintentional. Lamar County Sheriff Danny Rigel disagrees and has decided not to charge Andrew with any other crimes.

Suspect Andrew David Cook

Andrew David Cook, then a 23 year old white male, confessed to the killing of Donvian Barnes, his mother confessed to her role in the killing, Donivan's blood and DNA was confirmed by the Mississippi Crime Lab to be all over Andrew's damaged truck, and video footage is all included in the evidence discovered so far, but that evidence is not enough the sheriff says to charge Andrew with any other crimes.

Lamar County District Attorney Hal Kittrell dropped all charges against Andrew David Cook on Friday, March 6, 2025. Kittrell thinks Andrew is innocent and should not face any punishment.

Suspect Andrew David Cook never spent one day in a jail for the crime. Weeks later after Donivan was killed, Andrew confessed to the killing of Donivan, but was immediately released by the Lamar County Sheriff's Office. After strong push back from Donvian's family, the next day Lamar County court held a secret hearing after court was closed and staff was already gone home, suspect Andrew David Cook was booked and released within less than 2 hours.

Lamar County District Attorney Hal Kittrell

Donivan's family has several options including state or federal investigations. The community is outraged that Andrew David Cook has been able to walk away freely from killing someone, especially with so much evidence.

THN will take a deeper look as to why the Lamar County Sheriff Danny Rigel refused to charge Andrew David Cook with any more charges and why the Lamar County District Attorney Hal Kittrell thinks Andrew David Cook is innocent despite mounting evidence.

To follow along with the investigation, click here.