According to Harrison County Coroner Gary Hargrove, Lamont Hayes, 41, was shot in the groin area and bled to death just a few hours later. (Photo source: Facebook)
Gulfport Police say two men entered this home on Carson Drive Tuesday night, then shot and killed Lamont Hayes. (Photo source: WLOX)
"I can hardly believe he's gone," neighbor Dee Kurtz told WLOX reporter Michelle Lady. (Photo source: WLOX)
If you have any information that could help investigators with this case, call Gulfport Police at (228) 868-5959. (Photo source: WLOX)
GULFPORT, MS (WLOX) -An area of Gulfport still reeling from the brutal murder of a child last week was hit with another violent death Tuesday night.
According to Harrison County Coroner Gary Hargrove, Lamont Hayes, 41, was shot in the groin area and bled to death just a few hours later.
All police are saying about the possible suspects is they are two black men who were wearing dark clothes and bandanas over their faces. Both men were armed with guns when they went into Hayes's home and shot him.
Friends and family of Lamont Hayes were driving past the home throughout the day Wednesday hoping the news they heard about Hayes being murdered wasn't not true.
Bernadean Weary and her daughter drove past the house. "He was a real sociable person," Weary said. "He was a kindhearted person and I don't know what kind of person would want to do this to him.
The harsh reality is slowly sinking in for Weary and others who loved Hayes.
"It makes me feel real sad," Weary said. "I knew him and I loved him because he was a very friendly person. Every time I would see him he would smile and give me a hug because we go, like I said, way back.
"I can hardly believe he's gone," neighbor Dee Kurtz said. Wednesday, she couldn't stop looking out her door at Hayes's house waiting for him to come outside. Kurtz said she had known Hayes for 16 years.
"When it's this close to home and knowing him that long, the world doesn't look very good," Kurtz said.
According to police, around 11:30 Tuesday night two men went into Hayes's home, shot him while he was asleep, then tried to steal his car.
"I can't believe all this is happening in my neighborhood," Weary said. "And I now both people, the little girl and her family, as well as Lamont."
With two murders in just one week, Weary said she is not sleeping easy at night. And she has something to say to those responsible for the violence: "They need to stop."
Neighbors and friends say Hayes leaves behind a wife and children.
If you have any information that could help investigators with this case, call Gulfport Police at (228) 868-5959.
This is the sixth murder in Gulfport this year. Three of the murders have been closed. One man was charged Wednesday with Janaya Thompson's death, but so far no one has been arrested in Hayes's murder, or the April 14th murder of 21-year-old Britton Owen at William Bell Apartments.
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