Jackson Police Investigate Near-Miss Shootout Caught on Dashcam

Viral footage shows a driver narrowly avoiding a shootout in broad daylight in Mississippi, prompting a police investigation.

In a chilling incident captured on dashcam, a driver came within meters of a shootout in broad daylight in Jackson, Mississippi, prompting an investigation by the Jackson Police Department. The footage, which has gone viral on social media, shows a vehicle driving down a city street when a black SUV suddenly pulls up alongside and opens fire on a pedestrian. The driver of the dashcam-equipped car swerves just in time to avoid being caught in the crossfire.

The near-miss occurred on November 23rd at approximately 4:30 pm local time. The dashcam footage shows the driver driving down a residential street when the black SUV pulls alongside and a passenger in the SUV opens fire. The driver swerves to the left, narrowly avoiding the bullets. The SUV then speeds away from the scene.

The Jackson Police Department is investigating the incident and has not yet released any information about suspects or motives. The dashcam footage has been turned over to police as evidence.

The incident comes amid a surge in gun violence in Jackson. According to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, there were 73 homicides in Jackson in 2022, up from 58 in 2021. The city has also seen a rise in non-fatal shootings, with 312 reported in 2022, compared to 235 in 2021.

The near-miss shootout has shaken residents of Jackson and raised concerns about the safety of the city. Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba has called for increased police patrols and community outreach to address the issue.

In a statement, Lumumba said, "This incident is a reminder that gun violence is a serious problem in our city. We must work together to address the root causes of this violence and create a safer community for all."

The driver who captured the dashcam footage has expressed gratitude for narrowly escaping the shootout. In an interview with local media, the driver said, "I'm lucky to be alive. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. It was like something out of a movie."

The incident has also prompted calls for stricter gun control laws in Mississippi. Mississippi has some of the weakest gun laws in the nation, with no background checks required for private sales and no limit on the number of guns a person can own.

Advocates for gun control argue that these laws make it too easy for criminals to obtain guns and that they contribute to the high rates of gun violence in the state. However, opponents of gun control argue that these laws are necessary to protect the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens.

The debate over gun control is likely to continue in the wake of the near-miss shootout in Jackson. However, for the residents of the city, the most pressing concern is the safety of their community.