Jackson, Mississippi

From the Jackson Clarion-Ledger of August 29, 2006

Jackson police probe shooting

Two men with bullet wounds found in south Jackson neighborhood

Two men with gunshot wounds were discovered in a pickup in a south Jackson neighborhood Monday afternoon shortly after two neighboring business owners reported shooting at armed, masked men who had attempted to enter one of the businesses.

The injured men were taken to the University of Mississippi Medical Center, one with a bullet wound to the neck and the other with a bullet wound to the arm.

Police Cmdr. Lee Vance said investigators were not ready to say whether the two crimes were connected. No charges had been filed Monday night.
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Shortly after 3 p.m., workers at the Fairhill Drive address saw the men in front of the house, and police were called.

About 15 minutes earlier, an attempted robbery was reported at J Town Auto Sales, 1500 U.S. 80 West.

The owner reported firing at least two to three shots, Vance said.

The men then ran west down U.S. 80 and passed Standard Shift Transmission next door.

One of the men ran toward the owner, who also fired shots at them, Vance said.

An employee at the transmission shop who didn’t want to be identified said the business owner fired at one of the men after he pointed a gun at him.

J Town salesman Russell Seline said he saw his boss standing on the porch exchanging fire with the gunmen outside the business.

Surveillance cameras also captured the owner sitting at his desk when he apparently noticed something outside.

A woman sitting in front of his desk ducked down while he grabbed his gun, the video showed. When one of the gunmen opened the front door, the owner began firing.

“Instead of them shooting, they were getting shot at,” Seline said.

Bullet holes could be seen in the top of a silver Ford Probe, where Seline said the masked men took cover.

About 30 minutes before the attempted armed robbery, Seline said a man came in and paid $8,500 in cash for a Lincoln Navigator.

Seline said they couldn’t be certain that the two incidents were connected, but it is not often that someone comes in and pays cash for a vehicle.

Most purchases are made on credit and, if a cash purchase is made, it’s never for more than $2,500, he said.

Police did not release the names of the business owners.

Both went to the downtown police station Monday evening to be questioned further.