Gulfport officer shot multiple times; condition is ‘stable but guarded’

BY LAUREN WALCK AND WESLEY MULLER
Sun HeraldNovember 23, 2014




TIM ISBELL/SUN HERALD Corey Donald Johnson is led from the station by Gulfport police officers Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014. Johnson was booked for shooting a patrolman early Sunday morning.TIM ISBELL — SUN HERALD


GULFPORT — A routine traffic stop turned violent Sunday morning in Gulfport and an officer is hospitalized with gunshot wounds as a result.

The officer, whose name has not been released, is in “stable but guarded” condition at an area hospital, Deputy Chief Chris Loposser said in a news release. The officer was wearing a bulletproof vest.

About 4:20 a.m. two Gulfport Police officers attempted to stop a 2006 Chrysler for observed traffic violations near the intersection of 42nd Avenue and 20th Street, said Chief Leonard Papania in a press release.

Upon approach, at least two people got out of the car and fled on foot.

One of the officers pursued them and a struggle ensued with one of the suspects near 46th Avenue and 20th Street.
The man had a handgun and shot the officer multiple times in the body. Another officer later arrived and assisted the injured officer in making the arrest of 21-year-old Corey Donald Johnson of Gulfport.

Johnson faces a charge of attempted murder. He is being held in the Harrison County jail in lieu of $1,000,000 bond.
While being transported from Gulfport Police Headquarters, he responded to questions from reporters only by shouting expletives.

Johnson was wanted on multiple outstanding warrants. He has been in and out of jail seven times since September 2011, according to the Harrison County jail docket, for various charges including resisting arrest, carrying a concealed handgun, possession of cocaine with intent to sell and probation violations.

At the time of the shooting, he was out on bond for an unrelated drug charge. That bond has been revoked.

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