Remembering Fallen Biloxi Officer McKeithen at annual blood drive

BILOXI, Miss. (WXXV)- Many South Mississippians are remembering the life of a Biloxi police officer who was killed in the line of duty on this day seven years ago.

Robert McKeithen was shot and killed near his squad car outside the Lopez Quave Public Safety Center the night of May 5, 2019.

His alleged killer, Darian Atkinson, remains unfit to stand trial and is indefinitely committed to the Mississippi State Hospital.

In the seven years since his death, McKeithen has received numerous honors and tributes by many South Mississippi civic organizations and agencies and is continuously memorialized by his brothers and sisters in the Biloxi Police Department.

One of those yearly tributes to McKeithen is the annual memorial blood drive at the Biloxi Visitors Center.

Each year since his death, donors have stepped up to fill local blood needs. Organizers say the drive keeps growing year after year.