Officer John Schwartz honored for saving life of retired officer Mike Outzs

Officer John Schwartz received a medal on Thursday at the Gulfport Police Department for saving the life of retired law enforcement officer Mike Outzs. Officer Schwartz was recognized and greeted by Outzs who was present during the presentation.

Outzs was discovered shot in Gulfport after his Vicksburg home was ransacked in January. A concerned neighbor grew worried when they couldn’t reach him.

The neighbor went to the house a few doors down and noticed that the door inside the garage had been forcefully opened.

The police were called to the scene, followed by investigators from the VPD. Outzs was nowhere to be found, and his white GMC Sierra vehicle was also missing.

Sources informed the Vicksburg Daily News that the house had been ransacked. Items inside were stolen and arranged in a peculiar manner. It was reported that a TV was found on the floor and a safe was missing.

WLOX in Gulfport reported that an individual with two gunshot wounds was discovered behind Grace Temple Baptist Church. Although seriously injured, the person was alive.

Through the combined efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies, eight people were arrested in connection with the shooting of retired law enforcement officer Mike Ouzts.