ERDC security guard identified, dies of self-inflicted gunshot wound
Published 3:55 pm Thursday, December 9, 2021
- Traffic was backed up at the ERDC main gate with a heavy police presence Thursday following a shooting incident where a security officer sustained a gunshot wound to the head. (Photo by John Surratt | The Vicksburg Post)
The individual who was shot in the head on Thursday morning at the Engineer Research and Development Center in Vicksburg has been identified and has died.
Justin Rone May, age 37, was pronounced deceased by Warren County Deputy Coroner Kelda Bailess in the emergency department at Merit Health River Region. Bailess confirmed to The Post that the wound was believed to be self-inflicted, but the incident is still under investigation by the Vicksburg Police Department.
The incident occurred at approximately 11:30 a.m. Thursday when it was reported that an individual had been shot in the head at ERDC’s main gate on Hall’s Ferry Road. The individual was later identified as a security officer for the main campus.
ERDC employees were ordered to shelter-in-place for approximately two hours as the campus was locked down and local authorities responded to the scene.
There was no threat of an active shooter, according to the Vicksburg Police Department. The Vicksburg Fire Department, EMS and ERDC security all responded to the scene.