A Greenwood man, who threatened suicide early Thursday morning and then turned his gun on Leflore County deputies, remained in the Intensive Care Unit of the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson this morning, Sheriff Ricky Banks said.
Gary Hunt, 26, 404 Kinney St., first called his mother around 11 p.m. Wednesday and told her he was going to kill himself at his girlfriend’s home on Kinney Street, Banks said. Hunt’s mother called Banks at his home and told him about her son’s threat.
Banks contacted the Greenwood Police Department. When officers arrived at the residence, which is within the city limits, Hunt had already left.
Next, Hunt was reported to be at a sister’s residence in Brazil Homes, located in Leflore County, Banks said.
When deputies arrived, they found Hunt walking down a street during a heavy downpour. As deputies got out to see if they could help him, Hunt walked off and said he wasn’t going to go with them, Banks said.
The deputies eventually were able to box Hunt in.
“He pulled out a pistol and put it to his head,” Banks said.
As deputies tried to talk Hunt out of shooting himself, a group of witnesses began to gather, the sheriff said.
When Hunt began to point his gun at the deputies, they opened fire. Banks said he did not know how many shots were fired.
Hunt was able to talk to family members at UMC on Thursday, Banks said.
The sheriff said Hunt “needs some help.” Two or three weeks ago, Hunt threw himself in front of a car in Sidon but was not seriously injured, Banks said.
The shooting is being investigated by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation.
Banks said such shootings are rare for his department. “I think this is the third shooting in 40 years.”
• Contact Bob Darden at bdarden@gwcommonwealth.com.
