Painter’s Killing While On-the-Job at Mississippi Shipyard Raises Questions About the Rights of Mississippi Workers Injured Due to Violent Crimes at Work

The tragic shooting death of a Mississippi painter and shipyard employee rocked the community of Pascagoula, Mississippi, and the violent and frightening incident raises important questions about the rights of workers who fall victim to dangerous and violent workplace incidents. According to local reports, the shooting occurred at the tail end of August, on Friday, August 22. The victim of the workplace shooting, a 27-year-old employee of the shipyard and a resident of Prichard, Alabama, was found by police on a ship that was under construction at the time. Police believe that the victim was working aboard the ship when he was killed. The suspect, a 25-year-old man from Mobile, Alabama, was reported to have also been a painter at the shipyard, and a friend of the victim. Firearms are prohibited at the shipyard, and shipyard management stated that the company would “be working with the police department to look into this further,” and that they had “no idea how he got on [the ship] with a gun.” The employer of the shooting victim, Ingalls, released a statement, detailing that the company is “devastated by ‘the passing of a fellow shipbuilder,’” and stating to the families and other employees, “We extend our deepest sympathy and condolences to the employee’s family and friends during this difficult time.”

Do Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Cover Violent Workplace Incidents?

An important question comes to the forefront as the result of the terrible and violent shooting in Pascagoula: are Mississippi workers covered by Mississippi workers’ compensation for their injuries caused by violent crimes in the workplace? The answer is maybe. Under Mississippi workers’ compensation laws, most workers who are injured on the job and who cannot return to work are entitled to financial compensation to help them treat their workplace injuries and return to their jobs. The Mississippi workers’ compensation system is a no-fault system, so it does not matter whether the employer was at fault or not, in order to get benefits. In the case of violent workplace incidents, a Mississippi worker may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, if they were injured by another person on the job. However, the worker may not be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits if they themselves started the violent incident, or they engaged in committing it. The facts of every Mississippi workers’ compensation case differ, so it is always best to speak with an experienced Mississippi workers’ compensation lawyer about your particular case, if you are interested in discussing whether benefits are due to you.

If you are in the Mississippi area and you need legal help, contact the experienced Mississippi workers’ compensation lawyers at the law firm Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC. The experienced Mississippi workers’ compensation lawyers at Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC are here to help Mississippi workers get workers’ compensation benefits due to them. Contact Lunford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC and speak with a lawyer about your rights and options now.

Source:

military.com/daily-news/2025/08/23/ingalls-worker-killed-another-facing-murder-charge-after-shooting-mississippi-shipyard.html