STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) — The video went viral showing a campground employee in Oktibbeha County displaying a gun while telling a couple and their dog to leave the property. For most people, memorial day weekend is a time of quiet reflection and relaxation with their families.

However, that wasn’t the case for this Starkville couple.

Jessica Richardson says she and her husband were looking to spend the holiday weekend picnicking with their dog and possibly even renting a cabin.

She says they Googled a nearby Kampgrounds of America location and decided to drive there and that’s when things took a turn for the worse.

“She jumped out and the gun was pointed at me, my husband, and our dog. It was just pointing at us. One finger was on the trigger and one finger was on the lever of the revolver,” Mrs. Richardson said.

She then pulled out her cellphone. The woman holding the gun identified herself as the property manager, but her choice of words was less than professional.

“She was just like, ‘get, get, you don’t belong here, you don’t belong here, you don’t belong here,;” Mrs. Richardson said

Mrs. Richardson says the confrontation was shocking.

On the way out, they spoke to another campground employee outside the office who turned out to be the woman’s husband.

“I get out and start talking to him. The first thing he says is ‘Oh, you don’t need a reservation for the lake.’ Then she pulls up flying, hops out of the car, then proceeded to yell at my wife ‘get in the car, you need to get back in the car,’ just cussing her out and she’s not even saying anything,” SGT. Franklin Richardson said.

With signs at the front entrance and two different stories from employees, the Richardsons were confused, horrified and disappointed. The Army National Guard Sergeant recently returned from a nine-month deployment in the Middle East.

It’s kind of crazy. You go over there and don’t have a gun pointed at you, and you come back home and the first thing that happens is you have a gun pointed at you. It’s kind of crazy to think about.” -SGT. Franklin Richardson, Army National Guard

KOA released this statement to WCBI:

“Kampgrounds of America does not condone the use of a firearm in any manner on our properties or those owned and operated by our franchisees. The employee involved in the incident has been relieved of her duties at the Starkville KOA.”

