Hattiesburg family shaken after bullets strike home with children inside; juvenile suspect charged

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WDAM) - According to the Hattiesburg Police Department, a juvenile has been arrested and charged with trafficking, possession of stolen firearms, street gang activity, conspiracy to shoot into a dwelling, and aggravated assault.

The charges stem from an investigation into an early morning shooting on North 19th Avenue on Friday.

Standing outside his home Friday, homeowner Frank Garner pointed to what he says are two bullet holes left behind after shots struck the house.

According to Garner, the gunfire that damaged his home was not the first round of shots that night.

“About 3 o’clock in the morning, we were woken up by at least 20 gunshots,” Garner said. “It was like 5 the first couple seconds, and then at least 15.”

Garner said Hattiesburg police responded after the initial reports of gunfire. However, about two hours later, neighbors heard another round of shots ring out.

“As the shots went off, my oldest daughter, she got up, she was coming through crying,” he said. “She was asking us, did y’all hear that? Did y’all hear that?”

Garner said it was during that second round of gunfire that his home was struck while he, his wife and their children were inside.

After inspecting the damage, he realized just how close one bullet had come to his family.

“It actually went through my youngest daughter’s bedroom window,” Garner said. “She is 8-years-old. It went through her window, over her bed, out her door, down the hall. That same bullet went through my door, over my bed, out my window. So, it went through the length of my house.”

Garner said he does not believe his family was the intentional target.

“I want to say it wasn’t targeted, I’m hoping it wasn’t,” he said. “They was just doing some shooting, and I just happened to catch a stray bullet.”

Still, Garner said the incident has left him thinking about how differently the situation could have ended.

“If I would have been up getting ready for work, I feel I would have got hit because when I open my room door, the bullet hole is like right neck, head height,” Garner said. “Anybody could have got hit if they’d have been up walking. It was real close.”

Anyone with information that could assist investigators is encouraged to contact Hattiesburg Police at 601-544-7900 or Crime Stoppers by dialing **Tips. Anonymous tips can also be submitted at www.P3Tips.com.

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