Shots fired at Camp Shelby soldiers

Authorities are still searching for a man who allegedly fired shots at soldiers training at Camp Shelby on Tuesday.

Perry County Sheriff Jimmy Dale Smith said no one was injured around 11:35 a.m. when the shots were fired in the direction of two soldiers training on Peret Tower Road, which is not on the premises of Camp Shelby.

The call came in around 12:15 p.m. on the sheriff's department main line.

Smith said he doesn't know if the two soldiers were actually the target of the shots or not, but that where they were training was visible from the road.

Officers are searching the area for a maroon pick-up truck with black rims, believed to have been driven by a white man who Perry said authorities believe fired the shots.

Initially two men were questioned after authorities released an early description of a red pickup truck and it was traced to a residence in the area. They were taken from the residence to the Perry County Sheriff's Department by the Mississippi Highway Patrol before they were questioned and released without charges.

Lt. Col. Christian Patterson said the soldiers reported the shots to their commanding officers, who in turn told local authorities. On Monday, 25 distinguished visitors including Gov. Phil Bryant were present, Patterson said.

Smith said depending on how the investigation goes, the charges against the shooter could range from simple assault to aggravated assault. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation has been asked to assist, and the FBI has been made aware of the incident, officials said.

After four Marines and a Sailor were killed last month in Chattanooga, Tennessee, tensions are high about attacks on U.S. military targets by foreign and domestic terrorism groups.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call the Perry County Sheriff's Department at (601) 964-8461

4:05 p.m. update

Two people have been questioned and released in the investigation into the Camp Shelby shooting. Authorities are still searching for a suspect vehicle.

3:10 p.m. update

Department of Public Safety spokesman Warren Strain said the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is on the ground and is involved in the investigation.

2:24 p.m. update

WDAM reporter Ryan Moore is reporting that Perry County sheriff deputies are questioning a pair of white male suspects who "pulled up from driving another truck" while authorities were at a residence investigating a vehicle matching the description of the truck used in the Camp Shelby shooting.

2:22 p.m. update

While Camp Shelby soldiers participated in an exercise drill, an unidentified pickup truck passed by and fired shots. Lt. Col. Christian Patterson, director of public affairs at the Mississippi Military Department, said that no one was injured and that the soldiers on site reported the incident to civilian authorities. Patterson said that the incident was not being viewed as an active shooter situation and that increased security measures have been taken recently to protect soldiers. The Perry County Sheriff's office is handling the case.

Perry County Sheriff Jimmy Dale Smith said investigators are following up on a few leads at this point. There are officials at a residence in Perry County that has a vehicle that matches the description of the one used in the shooting, Smith said.

Sheriff Smith said he needs to speak to the soldiers who were shot at to find out more about the incident, but that at this point the shooters could be charged with anything from simple to aggravated assault.

2 p.m. update

Perry County Sheriff Jimmy Dale Smith said deputies are at a residence in Perry County where they found a vehicle matching the description of the one driven by the alleged shooters.

The Sheriff said he needs to talk to the soldiers who were shot at to find out more about the incident, but that at this point they could be charged with anything from simple assault to aggravated assault.

Original story

Authorities are searching for two suspects that allegedly fired shots at a group of soldiers at the Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center.

Mississippi National Guard Director of Public Affairs Lt. Colonel Christian Patterson did not confirm that soldiers were targeted.

Perry County Sheriff Jimmy Dale Smith confirmed to The Clarion-Ledger that shots were fired at approximately 12:10 p.m. at soldiers who were training in the area. No injuries were reported. Smith said his agency has "a few good leads" in the shooting. Authorities are searching for two white male suspects in a two-door red Ford Ranger with "Broken Arrow" written across the top.

WDAM reported that Lt. Col. Christian Patterson at Camp Shelby said shots were fired as the truck drove past the base and soldiers were in the area.