Suspect in vehicle theft killed near courthouse in Pascagoula, sheriff says

One person is dead after an active-shooter situation near the Jackson County Courthouse in Pascagoula, according to Sheriff John Ledbetter.

According to Ledbetter, Pascagoula police received reports of a stolen white truck, which was spotted by a deputy around 12:30 p.m. near the courthouse. After the truck backed into a propane tank at the courthouse, a suspect got out of the vehicle and exchanged gunfire with police.

The alleged shooter was killed, Ledbetter said, and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is en route.

The Pascagoula Police Department reports there is no current threat to the public, the scene is secure and there is a heavy police presence. Residents are asked to avoid the area.

This breaking news story will be updated as more information becomes available.

This story was originally published April 16, 2026 at 1:07 PM.

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.