By: Thomas I. Likness
Eagle News Service

(Eagle News) — Five people are dead in the wake of a shooting rampage in the U-S southeastern city of Biloxi, Miss.

Police say a gunman shot three people at a hotel — the hotel’s owner and two workers.

Police were dispatched to the hotel shortly after 9:00 a.m. Wednesday follow two anonymous 911 calls reporting gun shots said Biloxi police Capt. Milton Houseman.

“When our officer arrived on the scene, they located the three individuals,” said Houseman. “At that time all three of those folks were deceased.”

The gunman stole a vehicle belonging to one of the dead workers and drove to the adjacent city of Gulfport, said Houseman.

While in Gulfport, the suspect carjacked another vehicle and shot its owner who died sometime later.

After ditching the second car, the gunman ran into a convenience store where he took a hostage.

The suspect held police at bay for about two hours.

After failing to make contact with the gunman, police lobbed teargas into the store.

When they entered the store, police found the suspect dead.

Houseman says police have not been able to determine a motive for the slayings.

“We don’t know much,” said Houseman. “We’re trying to find witnesses that may be able to provide better information.

The shooting has left the city if about 380,000 people shaken. “We’re just not used to those types of things happening in Biloxi,” Mayor Andrew “Fofo” Gillich told local television station WWL. “We’re in shock.”
(Eagle News Service)