Coroner identifies employee who died in shooting at Ingalls Shipbuilding
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Authorities identified 27-year-old Tahj Johnson as the victim in the shooting.
- Police charged co-worker Curtis James Jr., 25, with murder after arrest.
- Officials confirmed both men worked as painters and had argued earlier in week.
Authorities have identified the Ingalls Shipbuilding employee who died in a shooting on Friday.
Tahj Johnson, 27, of Prichard, Alabama, was shot Friday morning, Jackson County Deputy Coroner James Prisock said.
Johnson died of multiple gunshot wounds on the ship where he was working, Prisock said. Police arrested a suspect, 25-year-old Curtis James Jr., on a murder charge.
Pascagoula Police Chief Terry Scott said at a news conference Friday morning that the suspect and victim were painters at Ingalls and had argued earlier this week. He declined to describe what the argument was about.
Ingalls Shipbuilding president Brian Blanchette said the tragedy was “about the worst thing you can imagine to hear.”
“We value every single one of our employees, and we go to great lengths to try and ensure their safety,” he said. “Clearly, this is not a day I would want to wish on anyone.”
Danny Hernandez, an Ingalls spokesperson, said employees across the company “are deeply saddened by the passing of a fellow shipbuilder who was fatally shot this morning.”
“We extend our deepest sympathy and condolences to the employee’s family and friends during this difficult time,” he said.
This is a developing story and may be updated.
This story was originally published August 22, 2025 at 2:41 PM.