Gulfport officers shoot man after he shot woman on Hewes Ave., police say

For the second time in two days, Gulfport police have shot someone, the department said on Twitter on Friday evening.

In a video interview tweeted by the department’s account, Chief Chris Ryle said that at 4:49 p.m., officers responded to “multiple phone calls” of a man standing on Hewes Avenue “actively shooting” a woman.

“Officers responded, made contact with the suspect, who was still kneeling in front of the female at this time, gave multiple commands for the suspect to drop the weapon, the suspect refused, the suspect then raised a weapon, the officers returned fire,” Ryle said. “Multiple officers returned fire.”

In a press release Friday evening, Gulfport police said that both the man and woman had been transported to a local hospital and were both in critical condition.

Ryle said the incident appeared to be a “domestic-related issue.”

Ryle said the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, the Harrison County District Attorney’s office and Harrison County’s crime scene unit are assisting in the investigation.

The first public notice of the shooting came in a tweet just after 5 p.m.

“The Gulfport Police Department is currently working an officer involved shooting near Hewes Avenue and Glover Street,” the tweet said. “Please avoid the area.”

The location appears to be near a site where the city has allowed residents to drop off tree and bush debris from Zeta.

“Additional details forthcoming,” the tweet said.

Yesterday, Gulfport police shot and killed a Saucier man named Henry Frankowski III outside a Dollar General on U.S. 49. Officers claim that he pointed a firearm at them.

This story was originally published November 13, 2020 at 5:18 PM.