News - Local

Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009

Wounded woman upset over break-up

JACKSON COUNTY — A woman wounded by a deputy on Friday was distraught over the break-up with her former girlfriend, said Sheriff Mike Byrd.

The sheriff on Sunday identified the woman as Michelle Valentine of Rose Drive in Moss Point. Her age was not available, nor was an update on her condition from nursing staff at Providence Hospital in Mobile.

“From what we understand, the other woman and another woman went out of state to get married,” Byrd said.

A relative told authorities Valentine said she planned to shoot herself, the sheriff said. Valentine was in stable but critical condition from a chest wound after the shooting. The shot was fired in the Doggie Town pet groomers parking lot off Mississippi 613. The sheriff said a deputy responded to a complaint at 10:43 a.m. of a possible suicide attempt by a woman with a gun.

When the deputy arrived, Valentine was holding the gun to her head and squeezed the trigger but the gun didn’t fire, said Byrd. She refused orders to drop her gun and then pointed it toward the deputy, Byrd said.

“It’s a horrible thing,” Byrd said, “but this officer did what he had to do to protect himself and others.”

As a routine procedure, Byrd asked for independent investigations by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and the District Attorney’s Office. He said the findings will be presented to a grand jury.

“I’m confident that the grand jury will find the shooting was in self-defense,” said Byrd.

Byrd said he doesn’t identify officers who use lethal force.

“I want to protect them and their families from any confrontation that could happen out in the public,” he said.