Shots Again Fired Near Soldiers at Camp Shelby

Military site goes on alert with person reportedly detained
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 5, 2015 11:48 AM CDT
Shots Again Fired Near Soldiers at Camp Shelby
Law officers inspect a vehicle matching the description of the one used in a shooting incident outside Camp Shelby in Hattiesburg, Miss.   (Eli Baylis/The Hattiesburg American via AP)

Routine military exercises at Camp Shelby in Mississippi weren't supposed to be this intense: For the second straight day, shots have been fired near the camp in Hattiesburg, reports WDAM. Again, nobody was injured, and the description of the shooter is similar: white male in a red or maroon pickup. "We're making sure soldiers are aware of what's going on so they can take the proper precautionary measures," says Lt. Col. Christian Patterson. Today's gunfire took place about 8am near a checkpoint just outside the base, reports CNN. One person has been detained for questioning, notes WDAM.

Speculation as to motive differ: It's possible it could be an oblivious hunter, but the camp will be in a "heightened state of alert" until authorities figure out what's going on, reports the Clarion-Ledger. The base is conducting something called the Exportable Combat Training Capability exercise involving about 4,600 soldiers from the 155th Armored Brigade combat team and other National Guard and Army Reserve units. That exercise is not the same as the Jade Helm training going on in several states that has conspiracy theorists worries about martial law, notes WDAM. The Army has not offered any specifics on the camp's role in Jade Helm, notes the station. (More Camp Shelby stories.)

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