Seven shot, one dead in mass shooting at Ocean Springs, Mississippi beach restaurant
A 19-year-old man is dead and six other people were injured following a mass shooting at a Mississippi beach restaurant, police said.
The gunman, a 22-year-old person whose name has not been released, opened fire at The Scratch Kitchen during a Cinco de Mayo party late Friday in Ocean Springs, Miss. in about four miles east of Biloxi, police said.
Ocean Springs Police Capt. Ryan LeMaire told USA TODAY on Monday three men and four women were shot at business.
LeMaire said Chase Harmon of Pascagoula was killed in the shooting.
On Monday, at least two victims remained hospitalized with non life-threatening injuries, he said. Officials have not released the other victims' ages.
The surviving victims were taken to local hospitals for treatment, LeMaire said.
LeMaire said the shooting suspect appeared to have acted alone.
The shooting suspect, who LeMaire described as a local resident, was charged with one count of first-degree murder and additional charges are pending.
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The shooter ran past security check
The Scratch Kitchen's owner told the Sun Herald there were about 200 people at the restaurant when the shooter ran past employees who were doing security checks at the entrance to the patio.
“The person who did the shooting wasn’t a customer,” owner Brittany Alexander said. “He didn’t get an arm band or anything to be out here.”
Motive unclear
A motive in the shooting was not known Monday and police said the case remained under investigation.
Police Chief Mark Dunston announced the suspect's arrest on Saturday but would not release his name.
“At this time the identity of the suspect will not be released,” Dunston wrote in a news release. “Detectives are continuing to conduct interviews and do not want details to taint any forthcoming information.”
A targeted shooting
The city's mayor, Kenny Holloway said, called the shooting an intentional attack, but did not elaborate.
(The shooting is a) "terrible disruption to our community," Holloway said. "The senseless act of violence has shaken our small town and has shown a disregard for others’ safety, not only in our downtown district but throughout our city. This was not a random act of violence but it was an intentional attack."
Anyone with additional information about the shooting is asked to call Ocean Springs police.
Contributing: Associated Press
Natalie Neysa Alund covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mass shooting in Ocean Springs, Miss. restaurant Scratch Kitchen
