JPD: Man with mental health issues in custody after firing shots near JPD headquarters, City Hall – Clarion Ledger

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A Jackson man is in custody after firing multiple shots in downtownJackson Thursday morning within feet of City Hall and the headquarters of the Jackson Police Department.

JPD Chief James Davis said the shooter is well known to police for other crimes in the downtown area and suffers from mental health issues.

The man shot "multiple times" at a senior police department officer, Davis said, before he was apprehended without harm.

The officer used department de-escalation techniques, the chiefsaid, to avoid engaging with the suspect and potentially putting other lives in danger during the busy morning hours.

Davis said police were called around 8 a.m. concerning a man firing shots near State and Pearl streets. The responding officer tried to engage the suspect when he fired at him. The officer did not fire back, according to the chief.

Instead, the officer disengaged and called for backup. The suspect ran away as police fanned out and followed him. During the pursuit, the man disposed of the 9mm handgun he was brandishing, Davis said, which police found.

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Davis said the man has been arrested multiple times in downtown Jackson for breaking into vehicles. The chief said the incident highlights the issues the department faces with individuals with mental health issues.

"It was a scary situation. He could have lost his life if it wasn't for the well-disciplined officers preventing harm to him, themselves and innocent citizens," Davis said.

The chief pressed for help from the state to fund mental health facilities better suited to deal with such individuals.

Jackson homicide: Man shot multiple times. Shots fired from vehicle, police say

"We need tofind a facility to keep this guy off the street. Myself and other officers are basically pleading for these mentally-ill individualsto be off the streets. We just need some help from the state. Heneeds to be in a facility where he can be monitored and medicated."

"We don't want to see another situation like this," Davis said.

Davis, who was out of the office when contacted,did not have the suspect's name immediately available.

JPDSpokesman Sam Brown was also not immediately available to say what charges the man is facing.

This story may update.

Contact Justin Vicory at 769-572-1418 or jvicory@gannett.com. Follow @justinvicory on Twitter.

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JPD: Man with mental health issues in custody after firing shots near JPD headquarters, City Hall - Clarion Ledger