Murder suspect in custody after standoff in Gulfport

The suspect wanted in last night’s murder in Long Beach is now in custody after nearly a two and a half hour standoff with police.
Gulfport police got a tip around 8 this morning that 28-year-old James McDowell was at a home off Railroad Street. When police responded, McDowell locked himself inside the house and refused to come out.
Negotiators tried multiple times to make contact with McDowell, but he refused. That’s when SWAT officers deployed tear gas, made their way inside, and took McDowell into custody shortly before 10:30.
Towards the end of the standoff, friends and family of the victim of last night’s homicide, Deverick Johnson, made their way to the scene. Ranetta Payton, family member of the victim, said, “I just spoke with him Saturday and I’ll tell you it’s just hard because you’ll never know when it’s your last time talking to someone you know.”
Alan Rugg, friend of the victim, said, “He was just cool you know. He played ball in school, just hung out. He was just a good guy. He wasn’t a thug. He was just a good man.”
McDowell is charged with murder. Two other people are also in custody, Charity McDowell and Michael Taylor, both charged with accessory after the fact to murder.