False reporting lands Vicksburg man in jail

Vicksburg Police officers took a man into custody Saturday night following an incident originally reported as a shooting.

Just after 10:15 p.m., a call came in saying that someone had been shot in the 1700 block of Military Avenue. An alleged witness told responding officers the victim was on the way to the hospital in a private vehicle and provided a vehicle description.

As is normal protocol following any shooting, Vicksburg Police officers and Warren County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the Merit Health River Region emergency room.

The shooting victim never arrived.

A subsequent investigation, led by Deputy Chief Penny Jones, revealed that the alleged witness had concocted the shooting story following a domestic incident. Police believe the witness and the caller are the same man.

Vicksburg Police Chief Milton Moore said the man, who has not been identified, has been charged with false reporting of a crime. He will be arraigned Monday in Vicksburg Municipal Court.

If convicted, the man faces up to one year in prison and a $5,000 fine. He may also be ordered to repay the costs of the incident to law enforcement agencies.