Two charged in Gulfport standoff

GULFPORT (AP) — Two suspects faced four counts each of aggravated assault after a nearly three-hour standoff with a Gulfport SWAT team this past weekend, authorities said.

Arrested after the early Sunday standoff were Luketta Ward, 26, and Drevon Shorter, 20, both of Gulfport, police said. Bond was set at $200,000 for each of the suspects.

Police Cmdr. Leonard Papania said members of the Gulfport Fire Department had responded to a call early Sunday morning when, several houses away, a disturbance broke out and spilled into the street.

Papania said firefighters heard an argument outside and saw the suspects and others engaging in what appeared to be a fistfight.

When the fighting escalated and several shots fired, Papania said the firefighters called in the police. No one was injured.

Police said Shorter and Ward had taken refuge in a residence near where the shots were fired. The residence was occupied by four young children, two teenagers and one other adult.

Papania said it is believed that the home was the residence of one if not both of the suspects.

Police evacuated the house next door to the residence and attempted to make contact with the suspects. Papania said after three hours Shorter and Ward were persuaded to surrender.