Oklahoma man dies after shooting in Harrison County in April, authorities confirm

An Oklahoma man shot in an incident in Harrison County in April has died of his injuries, Harrison County Coroner Brian Switzer said.

The coroner identified the deceased as Carl Bearden, 64, of Prague, Oklahoma. Bearden died Sunday of complications from a gunshot wound at Merit Health River Oaks in Flowood,

Bearden was shot April 25 in the 20000 block of Secretariat, off County Farm Road in Harrison County, authorities said. He first sought treatment in Forrest County.

Bearden had left Forrest County and was attempting to make his way back to Oklahoma when his condition worsened, resulting in his death from the gunshot wound, Switzer said.

Harrison County authorities are investigating the shooting.

This story was originally published May 6, 2025 at 9:43 AM.

Margaret Baker

Sun Herald

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Margaret is an investigative reporter whose search for truth exposed corrupt sheriffs, a police chief and various jailers and led to the first prosecution of a federal hate crime for the murder of a transgendered person. She worked on the Sun Herald’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Hurricane Katrina team. When she pursues a big story, she is relentless.