A former Lincoln County sheriff’s deputy was shot in the handduring an early morning robbery in south Jackson.

Robert Berry, 43, of 2438 Brignall Road, said he was shot in hisright hand around 2:30 a.m. Sunday while on his way to a restaurantin south Jackson. The injury was treated at the University MedicalCenter and Berry returned home later Sunday morning.

While on Interstate 55, Berry said a vehicle with Arkansaslicense plates began following him.

“It passed me flying and then it slowed down,” Berry said,adding that he then went ahead of the vehicle.

Later in the trip, Berry said some black males, possibly four,shot out his tire after he reached Jackson. He was unsure of thename of the street and did not know if the men were driving thesame vehicle as the one on the interstate.

Berry said one of the men put a gun in his mouth.

“He ran up and put the gun in may face and hit the lip of mymouth,” Berry said.

The men got his money clip and cell phone during the incident,Berry said.

Berry said the Jackson Police Department is investigating theincident.

After earlier serving as a deputy and an investigator for theLincoln County Sheriff’s Department, Berry is now working as aprivate investigator and in security. He recently finished third inthe Democratic primary for sheriff.