Kosciusko Police this morning detained a man at his home on South Natchez Street in Kosciusko after he threatened to harm himself in communications with family and friends.
Family and friends had been unable to enter the home to check on the man and contacted police when they heard a gunshot from inside the home, according to Kosciusko Police Chief Herbert Dew.
When officers arrived, the initially were able to enter the home and being a dialog with the man, but they retreated when the situation became unsafe.
At that point, police began telephone communications with the man with help from those family and friends who were on the scene.
“We thank the family and friends that were in conversation with him trying to help him,” said Dew.
In the meantime, Mississippi Highway Patrol (MHP), the Attala County Sheriff’s Office, and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigations sent personnel to the scene.
Dew said having a member of the MHP take over the negotiations with the assistance of family and friends was helpful, since many of the KPD officers know the man involved in the incident.
“It is hard because you know the man, but you have to get past that and do your job,” he said, “but it is usually better to have someone with no connection, so when he (MHP officer) showed up, we let him take the ball and run with it.”
Around 11 a.m., the man exited the home with a gun in his hand, but it was raised, so Dew said there did not appear to be any threat to officers. The man then laid the gun down and was taken into custody.
Dew said the man agreed to be taken for a health evaluation at a Jackson medical facility via Med-Stat ambulance.
“You always hope these situations turn out the way this one did,” said the Chief.
The only potential charge Dew said could be – but likely won’t be - filed against the man is for discharge of a firearm within the city limits.
“I don’t think charges are what he needs,” said Dew. “He really just needs medical help.”
