Key Takeaways
- A man shot during an altercation on Hardy Street will not face charges as Hattiesburg detectives ruled he acted in self-defense.
- Police responded to a report of shots fired, finding evidence at the scene and a victim with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.
- The shooter cooperated with police and provided details about the incident, supporting his claim of self-defense.
- Mississippi law allows deadly force when facing imminent threats, which the evidence supported in this case.
- The investigation remains ongoing, but initial findings indicate a lawful use of self-defense in the shooting.
HATTIESBURG, MISS. — A man who told police he opened fire after being assaulted during a late-night altercation on Hardy Street will not face charges at this time, with Hattiesburg detectives determining he acted in self-defense.
According to the Hattiesburg Police Department, officers responded to a report of shots fired in the 4400 block of Hardy Street at approximately 9:56 p.m. on Tuesday, July 7. When they arrived, they found evidence confirming a shooting had taken place. WDAM identified the scene as the Westwood Square area.
Shortly after, a person showed up at a local hospital with a gunshot wound to the leg. Police said the injury was not life-threatening.
Officers also spoke with a man who stayed at the scene. He told them he fired the shots after being assaulted during the altercation, and he cooperated with investigators throughout.
That last part matters. He stayed put, told officers what happened, and let the evidence speak. Based on what detectives gathered at this stage of the investigation, HPD determined he was acting in self-defense. No charges have been filed at this time, and the investigation remains ongoing.
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It is worth being precise about what happened here. This was not a shooting over an argument or wounded pride. According to police, the man was physically assaulted, meaning he faced a direct threat to his own safety when he fired. Under Mississippi law, a person may use deadly force when facing an imminent threat of death or serious bodily harm, and the physical evidence at the scene apparently backed up his account.
The determination is preliminary. Detectives made their call based on the evidence gathered so far, and the case is still open. But when the person who fired stays on scene, cooperates fully, and the evidence lines up with his story, that is exactly how a lawful defensive gun use is supposed to look in the aftermath.
