Witnesses say teen had a knife

Story by Stacey Cato

Officials have confirmed an armed teenaged boy was shot and killed in an officer involved shooting in Harrison County this week.

Just before 6 p.m. on Monday, officials said, 15-year-old Seth William Johnson, of Gulfport, was shot and killed by a Harrison County Sheriff’s Deputy near his home in the 18000 block of Lake Vista Drive off Canal Road.

In a press release issued earlier this week, Harrison County Sheriff Troy Peterson said deputies were dispatched to the area in response to a follow-up call regarding a stolen vehicle which occurred earlier that day.

“Deputies arrived and were met by an armed suspect,” Peterson said. “A deputy discharged his weapon and the suspect was transported from the scene to a local area hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.”

In accordance with protocol, the release states, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigations is leading the investigation. The Harrison County District Attorney’s Office and the Harrison County Coroner are as-sisting.

No other injuries were reported at the time of the incident.

Peterson said the officer involved has been placed on administrative leave with pay pending the case going before a grand jury.

No agency would comment further at this time, on the details which led up to the incident; however, witnesses say Johnson was armed with a knife when deputies confronted him.