Hancock County grand jury clears deputies in shooting during Hurricane Ida

A Hancock County grand jury has found no wrongdoing by deputies in the 2021 shooting of Martin Luther Bowman III.

The grand jury issued a partial report Wednesday.

Bowman, 80, was shot August 31, 2021 by Hancock County deputies after he shot his roommate at their home in Pearlington during Hurricane Ida.

According to a press release from Hancock County Sheriff Ricky Adam at the time of the shooting, deputies were called out about a shooting and arrived at the home by boat because of flooding from the storm.

Deputies made contact with Bowman, which led to an officer-involved shooting. After Bowman was shot, deputies found George Hobart Shaw, 65, dead of a gunshot wound.

“The grand jury finds no criminal conduct on behalf of the deputies involved from the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department,” the report said.

The grand jury said it will have no further action on the incident.