A former mayoral candidate died after reportedly exchanging gunfire with another man Monday night in the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Richard McBride, 61, died from a single gunshot wound at Singing River Hospital around 8:15 p.m., according to Jackson County Coroner Bruce Lynd, WLOX reported. The shooting occurred on Donovan Street around 8 p.m., Moss Point Mayor Billy Knight said.
The second alleged shooter survived and was hospitalized. Police withheld the suspect’s name while investigators determine what caused the incident and who bears responsibility.
“I just really hate so badly that, you know, he got into this altercation and they both had guns and they both shot each other. It’s unfortunate,” Knight told the outlet. (RELATED: Police Arrest Suspect In ABC News Station Shooting)
McBride ran for mayor of Moss Point in 2021 and again in 2025. Both races were against Knight, the sitting mayor, according to WLOX.
The Moss Point native worked in shipbuilding and fishing and lived in the city for more than 40 years. Mayor Knight called McBride a friend and said he served as a longtime pastor in the community.
Police have not determined a motive for the shooting. Knight said investigators should know more in “a couple days.”
The shooting came hours after police discovered two bodies in a home on Diamond Street about two miles away. The Jackson County Coroner’s Office said they were Alvin Meyers, 70, and Cynthia Tucker, 59. The coroner’s office said the pair had been dead for a while when officers showed up at 3 p.m., possibly since Sunday night.
No arrests have been made in either case, according to the outlet. Knight acknowledged the police department needs more officers and said the city would request state assistance if necessary.