Police await suspect from Louisiana in shooting case

Published 1:55 am Sunday, December 11, 2011

A Picayune man is being charged with firing gunshots into a home after a failed burglary attempt.

The suspect is identified as 28-year-old Philon McKinsie of 603 Charlotte Dr., who will be charged with residential burglary and shooting into an occupied dwelling after he is extradited to Pearl River County from Slidell, La, said Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department Chief Investigator Donnie Saucier.

Early Thursday morning deputies responded to call from a man on Jackson Landing Road who told them that McKinsie entered his home unannounced and uninvited and demanding money, Saucier said. Investigation into the incident showed that the victim may have owed a drug debt to McKinsie, the investigator said.

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After McKinsie demanded money, the victim said he did not have any money, the chief investigator said. Saucier said McKinsie then pointed a gun at the victim in an attempt to collect money, but the victim was able to grab a socket wrench that he used to strike McKinsie over the head, Saucier said.

McKinsie left the residence after being struck with the wrench and got into his vehicle, but as he drove away he fired shots into the mobile home, Saucier said. Responding deputies and investigators noted what appeared to be several bullet holes in the mobile home and several shell casings in the street, Saucier said.

After the incident McKinsie attempted to get his head wound treated at Highland Community Hospital but left before receiving treatment. Saucier said the Sheriff’s Department notified all area hospitals and adjacent law enforcement agencies in an attempt to locate McKinsie.

Slidell Police officers located McKinsie in one of that city’s hospitals and arrested him. Saucier said McKinsie is currently awaiting extradition back to Pearl River County where he will face charges for burglary and shooting into an occupied dwelling.

Saucier said there was no evidence of drug activity at the victim’s home at the time of the incident, so no charges were placed on him. Investigators are still looking for the weapon used in the incident and the case is still under investigation, Saucier said.