One reportedly shot, authorities seeking suspect

Published 2:20 pm Saturday, February 11, 2017

Vicksburg police are looking for a teenager between the ages of 16 and 17 in connection with a Saturday afternoon shooting that wounded another teen, Police Chief Walter Armstrong said.

“We have pictures of him, we know who he is, we know where he lives; we are actively looking for him,” he said. “We’re letting his friends and family know that if anyone tries to harbor (help) him, they will also charged with a crime.”

He said the wounded teen was shot once in the abdomen and appeared to be in good condition at Merit Health River Region emergency room. “He was talking to me and the officers and was talking on his phone,” he said. Neither the victim nor the shooter were identified because of their ages.

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Armstrong said the shooting occurred about 2 p.m. Saturday at the New Main Apartments, and stemmed from an ongoing argument between the teens and the victim’s family involving claims by the victim’s mother that the shooter had stolen items from her home.

He said the mother saw the teen Saturday and confronted him about the items, the victim came to his mother’s aid, resulting in fight, and the shooter pulled a gun and shot the other teen. The boy was taken to the hospital by a private vehicle.

About John Surratt

John Surratt is a graduate of Louisiana State University with a degree in general studies. He has worked as an editor, reporter and photographer for newspapers in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. He has been a member of The Vicksburg Post staff since 2011 and covers city government. He and his wife attend St. Paul Catholic Church and he is a member of the Port City Kiwanis Club.

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