A US Navy base in Mississippi had to build a wall of more than 20 shipping containers to keep stray bullets from flying into sailors’ homes.
The boxes were lined up along the south side of Seabee Base in Gulfport after gunshots erupted in an apartment complex across the street.
No one was injured in the gunfight, but five homes at the Naval Construction Battalion Center were damaged.
In response, security forces were stationed at the William Bell Apartments and the base increased patrols around the complex.
But locals have opposed the measures, saying they have struggled with gun violence for years and want a solution to the problem.
A before and after image shows a US Navy base in Mississippi before and after shipping containers were set up to protect against stray bullets
No one was injured in the shooting at the William Bell Apartments (pictured), but five homes at the Naval Construction Battalion Center were damaged.
The shipping containers were set up along Commission Road in October and were only intended as a ‘temporary solution’.
A spokesman for the naval base said the city had given assurances it would address gun violence, but the base was now considering building a permanent concrete wall.
“Protecting our base, staff and families is our top priority,” the spokesman added.
John Whitfield, pastor and CEO of nonprofit human resources development organization Climb CDC, told NBC News, “The visuals of this are very poor. I get the practicality.”
Those who live and work in parts of Gulfport, home of 72,000, have spoken out about being hit by stray bullets and having to seek cover in the gun violence-ridden city.
About a decade ago, two to three homicides were reported per year, but since 2019, the number has skyrocketed to at least ten homicides per year.
Two people were injured in a shooting at a birthday party Thursday just blocks from the naval base.
A 20-year-old man was shot dead in another nearby incident the same day.
JaKamori Lake, a pregnant 16-year-old, was shot and killed in Gulfport on April 30 and a 15-year-old has been charged in her death.
Days earlier, Gulfport police arrested a seventh suspect in connection with a 2021 New Year’s Eve shooting that killed four people.
Louis Gholar is President of the West Gulfport Civic Club and organized an upcoming community gathering on ways to combat the growing violence.
“It may not be as bad as Jackson, it may not be as bad as Memphis, Tennessee, but we have this problem,” he said.
“I think it’s not just in Gulfport – the whole coast has this problem.”
‘We’re losing our young people too fast, too fast.’ They don’t even get a chance to live.’
The shipping containers were placed along Commission Road in October and were intended to serve as a ‘temporary solution’, but the Navy is considering building a permanent concrete wall
John Whitfield, pastor and CEO of nonprofit human resource development organization Climb CDC, told NBC News, “The visuals of this are very poor.” I get the practicality.
Those who live and work in Gulfport, home of 72,000, have spoken out about being hit by stray bullets and struggling in the gun-torn city
Tia Mosley’s 17-year-old son was killed in a drive-by shooting two years ago, and every time she opens Facebook and sees more reports of local violence in Gulfport, she gets uneasy.
“I don’t want my daughter to go outside at all,” she said of her 11-year-old. “You can only pray.”
Retired teacher Martha Lockhart-Mais, who lives near the naval base, said one of her former students was shot dead last year while others were involved in other shootings.
“I don’t like walls that separate people,” she said. “I believe that people should be able to live together without barriers.”
Gulfport Mayor Billy Hewes, who is in his third term, agreed that gun violence is a problem in the area.
The Republican politician’s staff say problems arise in some cases when apartment complexes are not adequately secured.
He was convinced that parents should keep a better eye on their children and intervene when they spot guns.
“I think that’s where we run into problems if we rely on the government to solve everything,” Hewes said.
“Honestly, what I’ve seen and experienced and believe is that it starts at home.”