Freed early from psychiatric hold, Coast man stabbed roommate 11 times, police say
Gulfport police first encountered attempted murder suspect Floyd Charles Guy on April 7, after he threatened to kill his roommate with a knife, Detective Liam Cogley testified Thursday.
Gulfport police officers trained in crisis intervention determined during that encounter that Guy was experiencing a mental health crisis and transported him to Memorial Hospital for a 72-hour psychiatric hold. Instead, Cogley said, “for some reason” Guy was released.
The following day, Guy, 51, attempted to carry out his threat, stabbing his roommate 11 times in the face, back, and neck at a home on Triple Cove, the detective said. Guy was said to be mad because his roommate told him to move out. Guy wasn’t paying any rent.
Gulfport police arrested Guy on a charge of attempted murder. They made the arrest the same day of the April 8 attack, after someone spotted Guy walking down Pass Road in bloodied clothes and armed with a knife and scissors.
Harrison County Justice Court Judge Nick Patano heard testimony in the case during a preliminary hearing at the Harrison County jail. Afterward, he found enough evidence to bind the case to a grand jury for indictment. The judge kept Guy’s bond at $1 million.
Guy’s attorney, Phil Wittmann, unsuccessfully argued that his client should be facing a charge of aggravated assault instead of attempted murder so he could get a lower bond for Guy. The judge followed the recommendation of Harrison County Prosecuting Attorney Herman Cox and kept Guy’s bond at $1 million.
According to the detective, the victim said he was working at his computer when Guy came up behind him, shouted, “I’m going to kill you,” and started stabbing him repeatedly with a kitchen knife. Police also recovered a pair of bloodied scissors at the home after his arrest.
The detective said the victim sustained serious injuries, including an injury to his nose that will require reconstructive surgery.
In addition, Cox pointed out that Guy has an extensive criminal history spanning five states: Mississippi, Texas, Louisiana, Florida, and South Carolina. Guy has prior arrests for arson, assault, and other violent offenses, he said.
Guy is also a suspect in other crimes in the city, the detective said. If convicted of attempted murder, Guy could go to prison for 20 years to life.
This story was originally published May 15, 2025 at 12:22 PM.
