Four good men with guns saved the day, shoot four bad men

Father and son die in shootout at Pearl River County gun shop


JEREMY PITTARI/PICAYUNE ITEM Pearl River County deputies who responded to a report of a shooting at this gun shop on Mississippi 43 found the store owner and his son dead in the store. Two customers, also a father and son, were shot and wounded. unknown
By WESLEY MULLER [email protected] Twitter: WesleySMuller

PICAYUNE -- A father and son were killed in a shootout with another man and his son at a gun store Saturday in Pearl River County's Henleyfield community.

Pearl River County deputies responding to the shooting on Mississippi 43 about 3:15 p.m. found the store owner and his son dead in the store, Chief Deputy Shane Tucker said.

The owner's wife was working at the store when two customers, a man and his son, entered to pick up a firearm that had been repaired.

"There was some contention about a $25 fee," Tucker said.

In an attempt to clear up the dispute, the woman called her husband, who later arrived with his son. An argument ensued between the owners and the customers.

"During this argument, we believe there might have been some pushing and shoving," Tucker said. "One of the customers and one of the owners produced firearms. We don't know who shot first."

All four men were shot. The two customers were airlifted to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, Tucker said.

The wife of the owner was not wounded.

Investigators are trying to determine how the situation unfolded before any charges are filed, Sheriff David Allison said.