Police Still Searching for D’Iberville Robbery Suspect

The search is still on for a man who assaulted and tried to rob a D’Iberville homeowner Monday morning, putting the entire area on high alert and an elementary school on lock down.

A man hunt began soon after the crime at a home on North Byrd Street. Police swarmed this usually quiet street Monday morning after a homeowner on North Byrd Street unknowingly let an armed robber into his home just after 9 a.m. Clay Jones, Deputy Chief of the D’Iberville Police Department, says, "Upon arrival, the homeowner stated that an individual knocked on the door, and there are several individuals that live there, so he let the individual in, thinking he was a friend of someone living here."

However, the visitor had bad intentions. Police tell News 25 he pulled out a silver handgun and assaulted the homeowner in a robbery attempt. Jones also says, "Struck the homeowner over the head and fled as well, prior to taking anything. He didn’t get anything out of the house."

The would be robber left empty handed, but the entire area was on high alert as police launched a massive manhunt that included D’Iberville Police and several other local law enforcement agencies. The Biloxi K-9 unit was not able to find a trail of the suspect, leading law enforcement to believe the suspect may have fled the scene in a vehicle at some point. Jones also says, "We’re looking for a white male. He was wearing a grey hoody. He had a blue rag on the top of his head with sunglasses. About 5 feet 10 inches tall, dark complexion, white man."

During the search, for extra precaution, Sacred Heart Elementary School off of Le Moyne Boulevard, was put on lock down for 30 minutes. Jane Sema, Principal of Sacred Heart Elementary, says, "And so we checked all the doors went into a lock down, made sure all of the doors are locked, children went into place for the lock down for about 30 minutes."

The lock down was called off around 10:30 a.m. Monday morning, but as an extra precaution, the school doors remained locked throughout the day. Police say they’re following leads and believe the suspect will soon be found. If you have any information about this case, please contact Crime Stoppers or the D’Iberville Police.