One of the top all-around players from Mississippi and casino dealer, "Biloxi Mike" Surber, was found dead in his home on November 12th.

Officials have ruled the cause of his death as a murder (homicide) and have named a "person of interest" in the case. Mike was a very popular pool player and a top competitor on the national scene.

Please take the time to look at the picture of the "person of interest." He is known to frequent casinos. If you recognize this person, contact Lieutenant John Flowers of the Ocean Springs Police Department at 228-875-2211.

Flowers of the Ocean Springs Police Department is in the process of an ongoing investigation. They are currently trying to locate the "person of interest" who goes by the name of "Jericho Cooper." The below-referernced is a video picture of Cooper which was captured by a video when he was leaving Skeeter's Billiards in Gulfport on Tuesday night, November 10, 2009, the last person known to see Biloxi Mike alive.

Mike Surber was well loved by his family and friends. He worked in the casinios most of his entire life. Please help us find the person who murdered this kind soul.

Click here to read more:
"Pool Player's Death in Ocean Springs Ruled a Homicide…", by Cherie Ward, Blog.al.com
"Police Name Person of Interest in O.S. Homicide Case" by WLOX Staff
"In Memory of a Great Player: Michael "Biloxi Mike" Surber", by OnePocket.org
"Murder Victim Michael Surber Remembered", by Krystal Allan, WLOX.com
"Coast Billiards Player One of the Best" by Mike Lacy, Beachblvd Magazine and SunHerald.com[/color]

Person of Interest a/k/a "Jericho Cooper" pictured below.

A tribute on Biloxi Mike Surber was written about this gentle soul on a top billiards forum. Click here to read more: Surber Memorial

The billiards community is outraged and is seeking the help of the casino community to please take a look at the picture of the person of interest. If you know this person of interest, please contact the Ocean Springs Police Department.

Help us seek justice for Biloxi Mike Surber, depicted below, competing earlier this year, January 2008, at the Annual Derby City Classic.

Here is a description of what happened the last time Mike Surber was seen alive by a beloved friend.

Please take the time to read the description of the "person of interest," Jericho Cooper, in red:

It is with great sadness and great frustration that I report my knowledge of the events surrounding the murder of my friend "Biloxi Mike" Surber.

I came to Skeeter's Billiards at my usual time Tuesday afternoon (Nov. 10). Mike was playing friendly pass-time one-pocket with another friend of mine, Jerry, who works at the Beau Rivage with Mike. Mike and Jerry have been friends for years. I took the table next to theirs, and commenced to practice.

Shortly I noticed a stranger standing about 15 feet away, intently watching Mike and Jerry play. He just stood there sipping on a bottle of beer and watching. Presently he came up to the two men, and asked Mike if anyone liked to gamble. Mike said he did, and they walked up to the bar for a conversation. Mike then came back and resumed play with Jerry.

The stranger presently walked over again and told Mike that he had been watching him play, and that he couldn't beat Mike. Mike remarked that one-pocket was his best game, but that he also played 9-ball. At that point the guy started telling the two that he and partners had a recording studio in Atlanta, and that he was in the Gulfport/Biloxi area to scout locations for a new studio. From then on I paid only partial attention to what they were saying. Most of it I wasn’t interested in. Some of it I couldn't hear.

I didn't like the looks of the guy. He was rather swarthy looking, with dark hair pulled back into a pony-tail. He had on a medium blue long sleeved dress shirt, and dark slacks. He had a soft voice-- rather disarming and non-threatening, and had the allure of an experienced con. That package put up a red flag to me, and I didn't even want to meet the guy. However, I just figured him for a bull****ter.

I heard him tell Mike that he needed someone to show him around the casinos, and help him get the lay of the land. He asked Mike if he'd do it. Mike said, "You mean right now?" I recall thinking to myself that that was the wrong answer. Why would Mike even consider it?

Anyway, Mike agreed to help the guy out. Mike called another friend of his to tell him that he and this guy would be driving Mike's pickup over to the friend's house to pick up Mike's car (Mike had left it at the friend's when he had anticipated damage from tropical storm Ida), and then they would drop Mike's pickup back at Mike's house so that they could use his car for the "tour".

They left the poolroom at around 4 PM. Then Jerry moved over to my table to play pool with me. We both were surprised that Mike would take this guy at his word, and leave with him. We thought it was strange --that although Mike was a normally a wary guy, and usually very cautious and suspicious-- but this time he seemed to drop his natural guard. I think Mike had simply fallen for this guy’s line of crap.

Very little is known from that point until Thursday (yesterday) morning, when Mike’s car was noticed in the parking lot, parked in an area that was blocking some deliveries. The owner of Skeeter’s saw Mike’s car. He saw that the doors were unlocked, and the keys were in the ignition, so he simply moved it to another spot. Later Jerry came to the poolroom, having heard that Mike never showed up for work at the casino, which had never before happened. He and another guy opened up Mike’s car and saw Mike’s credit cards and license in a rubber band, with no money attached. The then knew that something was very wrong.

They drove over to Mike’s house, but couldn’t get any answer at the door. They came back to the poolroom and called the Ocean Springs police. The police said they couldn’t break in, but that they’d look the other way if his friends wanted to do so. A group of guys then back over to Mike’s. They kicked open a hole through some storm plywood in the back window, and looked in. Mike was laying face down in a pool of blood. They then called the police, who immediately cordoned off the scene, and wouldn’t let anyone in the house.

The consensus opinion of Mike’s friends is that he had been bludgeoned in the back of the head and left for dead. They believe that if he’d been shot, that close-by neighbors would have heard it. They suspect that the murderer then took Mike’s money, and possibly whatever else he could from the house; then drove Mike’s car back to the poolroom, and fled in the perpetrator’s own vehicle....

Another picture of the "person of interest" below. Please contact the Ocean Springs Police Department at 228-875-2211 if you know this man in the picture below.

Biloxi Mike was a well-loved man who should not have had his life stolen from him in this manner. He would give anybody the shirt off his back if they had only asked.

A quiet, unassuming-type man, he will be remembered for his kindness to others and gentle smile. This is Biloxi Mike Surber pictured below.

RIP. hope someone here can help. a crosspost to brick and mortar might not be a bad idea. fairly certain a lot of locals peruse that forum.

What a great idea. I am going to do that right now.

Thanks for the suggestion and taking the time to reply!

Jeez. I really hope someone can help with finding this guy.

RIP

Dang...Ocean Springs...I used to live there.

sad stuff.

geez wtf is going on in this world ? I hope someone helps.

I'd never heard of Mike before but this is really disheartening as he seemed like a wonderful person. I hope they catch this monster as soon as possible and he's brought to justice.

RIP "Biloxi Mike"

Somebody "in the know" mentioned that the person of interest, "Jericho Cooper," was en route to Tunica. He is known to frequent casinos.

If you live in the Tunica area, please be on the look-out for the picture of this "person of interest" and contact the Ocean Springs Police Department.

Really sad story, rip.


Think your biggest hope is him entering a casino again, doesn't seem like this was a one time thing he pulled off.

my sympathies on the loss of your friend. really hope you get some help finding the murderer.

why can't people leave other people alone.It makes me so sad.