One taken to hospital after shooting in downtown Gulfport

A heavy police presence surrounded Highway 49 in downtown Gulfport this evening when shots were fired.

According to Gulfport police, around 4 this afternoon they received a call that there was a disturbance at the Gulfport Library. Those who called 911 gave out a description and once police arrived they saw an individual fitting that description going into Quick Cash Pawn near 21^st Street.

The person quickly left once he saw police. Police say the individual was armed and that’s when shots were fired. The individual was shot during the altercation and was later transferred to a local hospital. No police were harmed during this shooting.

News 25 spoke with witnesses who described what they saw. Witness Samuel Bacote said, “I heard two shots. Pow! Pow! and I said that can’t be no fireworks. I came out and looked and I saw a young man running then I see the police have their guns out at him. He surrendered and fell down and that’s when I ran out of here and saw it. All the police just start coming out and I was like this is really going down. I saw a guy who looked like he been shot and he was running like he was hurt.”

The identity and condition of the victim is unknown at this time. This incident is still under investigation.