Report of shots fired at local bank leads to two arrests

Two suspects were arrested after shots were fired near the Bank Plus location at 115 Williams Ave in Picayune. The incident happened on May 22, at approximately 2:54 a.m. according to a press release from Picayune Police Assistant Chief James Bolton.

Bolton’s release states that officers were dispatched to the Bank Plus location after a call came into Central Dispatch reporting shots had been fired in the area. A caller stated he had observed two black male subjects running west in the alley between Williams Avenue and West Canal Street. The caller stopped the officers and pointed out a vehicle travelling west on Williams Avenue that the caller said the subjects had gotten into the car.

Officers made contact with the vehicle and its occupants near Sixth Avenue. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Jamario Leggett, age 18, of Picayune. Bolton stated that Leggett had two 17 year old juveniles inside the vehicle with him. The subjects were removed from the vehicle due the possibility they could be in possession of a firearm. The officers were speaking with Leggett when he became uncooperative and refused the officers orders to stop trying to reach into his pockets. The officers were able to secure Leggett with handcuffs after a short struggle.

One of the juveniles on scene admitting to firing a handgun in the area of Bank Plus. Officers conducted a search of the vehicle for weapons and located a misdemeanor amount of marijuana. Investigators came to scene at Bank Plus and located several shell casings in the parking lot area and located a glass door to the bank which had been shattered.

Bolton said officers checked surveillance video in the area and were able to observe Leggett striking the door and shattering the glass with his fists. No entry was made into the bank according to Bolton.

Officers were also able to see one of the juveniles, identified as Darrell Hinton, age 17, of Picayune, had fired the handgun in the direction of another subject on scene.

Leggett was arrested and transported to the Pearl River County Jail where he was booked and incarcerated for Malicious Mischief Felony, Possession of Marijuana, Disorderly Conduct, and Resisting Arrest. Hinton was charged as an adult for Aggravated Assault and Armed Robbery and was incarcerated in the Pearl River County Jail. The other juvenile was released to the custody of the parents and he was not arrested, nor charged with any crimes.