Shooting rampage started with man’s firing 9 years ago.

PORT GIBSON – The man being held for killing an attorney, wounding a Claiborne County secretary and firing a series of blasts into the county administrator’s home was carrying a grudge about being fired from his county job nine years ago, officials said Friday.

Carl Brandon, 52, 204 Mimosa St., killed Allen Burrell, attorney for the Claiborne board of supervisors, shortly after 8 a.m., went to two other places and then turned himself in at the sheriff’s department about 8:30 a.m., said Sheriff Frank Davis.

&#8220He wanted his name cleared and he wanted his job back,” Davis said.

Brandon was road manager for the county. He was fired in 1997 after being accused of sexual harassment, an accusation he denied and appealed through the court system. The Mississippi Court of Appeals upheld the firing in 2001 and the state Supreme Court denied in October 2002 Brandon’s request for a review.

Brandon is president of the Vicksburg-Warren chapter of the Alcorn State University Alumni Association.

Authorities had not formally charged Brandon, who was on the last day of spring break from his job at Vicksburg High School.

It was not known whether he and Burrell exchanged any words, but the attorney was felled by a shotgun blast to his face as he got out of his SUV at his 701 Market St. law office. Burrell was 54.

Authorities believe Brandon drove next to the home of James Miller at 302 Mansion St. and opened fire at the brick residence, shattering several windows.

Davis and Miller both said they are sure Brandon, who attended Thursday night’s board of supervisors meeting, remained distraught about his firing.

&#8220It obviously played itself out this morning,” said Miller, who said he was in his bedroom getting dressed for work when he heard what sounded like an explosion of an electrical transformer. Then there were more.

&#8220I hit the floor and crawled,” Miller said, adding that if the shots had begun from the other direction or if he had not ducked he would probably have been hit. &#8220I had no idea who it was or what his motive was.”

Miller’s wife and grandchildren would also have been in the home if they had not been visiting family in Texas for spring break, he added.

Miller said Burrell’s family has &#8220my condolences and deepest, deepest sympathy. I mean he has a wife and three kids.”

Four shotgun-blast holes could be seen across the front of Miller’s one-story residence.

Authorities said Brandon went next to the county highway department headquarters on Mississippi 18, entered and shot Loretha Porter, a road department administrative assistant.

&#8220He couldn’t get the shotgun to work, so he used the pistol,” said Alonzo Jones, now road manager for the county. Porter reportedly had two wounds in her abdomen. Jones was not with her when she was shot, but remained with her until an ambulance arrived. She was taken to University Medical Center in Jackson and reported in good condition Friday afternoon by a hospital spokesman.

Brandon has been working as special-populations teacher at Vicksburg High School, officials of the Vicksburg Warren School District confirmed. The position is one of four that act as a liaison between Vicksburg High School and Hinds Community College.

Jones said there was nothing unusual about Brandon attending Thursday’s meeting, that he often did and was cordial.

&#8220He said, ‘Good evening,’ spoke to Mrs. Porter’s husband,” and engaged in &#8220casual conversation,” Jones said.

Port Gibson Mayor Amelda Arnold said she had grown up with Brandon and that he was always &#8220a decent person” who &#8220came from a great family.”

Jones said all county employees had been sent home following the shooting.

Davis said Brandon had several firearms in his vehicle.

&#8220We have never had a tragedy to take place in our county like this,” said Charles Shorts, president of the Claiborne County Board of Supervisors. &#8220It’s devastating for us.”

Davis said when charges are filed against Brandon, who was being held without bond, they would include murder, shooting into an occupied dwelling and aggravated assault.