A potentially dangerous situation in Port Gibson ended peacefully Tuesday after police responded to reports of a man openly carrying an assault-style rifle near City Hall.
According to a statement from the Port Gibson Police Department, Chief Russell Dorsey responded to the call himself and encountered a man walking down the street with an AR-12 rifle in hand. The suspect, later identified as Cortland Holmes, was safely disarmed and taken into custody without incident. No injuries were reported.
The investigation revealed that Holmes had allegedly been involved in a prior disturbance and returned to the scene armed with the rifle. Authorities later confirmed that Holmes is a convicted felon and was on probation for a similar firearm-related offense at the time of Tuesday’s incident.
He has been charged with Felon in Possession of a Firearm and is currently being held at the Claiborne County Detention Center awaiting an initial court appearance. His probation officer has also been notified.
“I’m thankful this situation ended peacefully,” said Chief Dorsey. “The presence of a high-powered weapon in a public setting poses a real threat to community safety. We’re committed to keeping our citizens safe and preventing gun violence in our streets.”
The Port Gibson Police Department continues to investigate and is working closely with prosecutors to pursue charges.
