On May 31, at about 4:39 pm Picayune Police officers conducted a traffic stop on a tan Chevrolet Malibu for a traffic violation.
The driver pulled into a business on Hwy 11 near Mitchell St. Before the officer approached the vehicle, the driver shot himself.
The officer immediately called for backup and as officers were trying to administer first aid, they officers noticed a suspicious device in the vehicle that appeared to be a bomb.
Officers backed away and dragged the driver where he could be loaded into an ambulance. He did not survive.
Local businesses were evacuated and Biloxi bomb squad was requested. They arrived and cleared the vehicle.
It was discovered that the suspicious device was a homemade gun made from a pipe.
Just prior to this traffic stop, officers responded to an address on Shirley Drive in reference to an Auto Theft.
At about 5:32 pm officers were dispatched to Jarrell Street in reference to a shooting that stemmed from the Auto Theft. The suspect, Charles Washington, barricaded himself inside and refused to come out. Less Lethal munitions were deployed and Washington was later located by Picayune PD SRT and Pearl River County SRT inside the residence.
He was arrested for Aggravated Assault and Disorderly Conduct. More charges are pending.
Picayune Police posted on Facebook saying,
“This evening should have been chaotic but it wasn’t, thanks to great partnerships and solid police officers! We appreciate the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department, MHP, FBI, ATF, MS Office of Homeland Security and Biloxi Bomb Squad for all of their help this afternoon.”
