2 dead, suspect captured and identified after long standoff in Pascagoula, police say

A suspect in two homicides who police said was barricaded in a Pascagoula home for several hours Wednesday was arrested around 7:30 p.m., authorities said.

Darold Payne, 39, was taken into custody after authorities shot tear gas into the home, Police Chief Terry Scott said.

The details of the incident are not yet clear. Police said earlier Wednesday they were investigating the deaths of two people as homicides, and believed the suspect was barricaded in a house on Krebs Avenue.

Jackson County Coroner Bruce Lynd Jr. confirmed two people were dead.

Police were called to the scene at 3:35 p.m. because people were fighting there, the police department said in a news release late Wednesday. Officers saw Payne run inside a home and barricade himself inside.

Officers found two victims dead outside the home, according to the news release.

Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter said a tactical team from the sheriff’s department tried several times Wednesday evening to contact Payne by phone. Authorities told Payne they had surrounded the home and tried to coax him out unsuccessfully. The team then tried to breach doors and windows, the sheriff said, and ultimately used tear gas.

“We were able to successfully get the barricaded suspect out of the home,” Ledbetter said.

The identities of the victims will not be released until their families are notified.

Police asked residents to avoid the area while first responders secured the scene. Authorities did not release more information.

This story was originally published March 5, 2025 at 5:15 PM.