A mass shooting at a Henderson homeless shelter for men on Thursday night killed two people and injured four others.
The shooting happened around 7:40 p.m. at the Harbor House Christian Center, which is located at 804 Clay St. According to Henderson City Commissioner Robert Pruitt, about 15 people were inside at the time.
Henderson police identified the suspect as Kenneth R. Gibbs of Henderson in a Facebook post. Henderson police announced on social media shortly before 10 p.m. that Gibbs had been apprehended. According to Henderson Police Chief Sean McKinney, Gibbs was found at the Hays Boat Ramp in the 2000 block of North Elm Street.
McKinney stated that Gibbs was armed when he was apprehended at 9:45 p.m. Witnesses at the shelter identified Gibbs as the shooter, according to McKinney.
The first fatality was confirmed by Pruitt to the Courier & Press, and the second was confirmed by city spokeswoman Donna Stinnett.
Stinnett stated that Gibbs was a resident at the centre. The scene has been secured, according to Henderson police. The victims’ names have not been released.
On Facebook and Google, Harbor House is listed as a homeless shelter. It is described on its Facebook page as “a safe haven for needy men Harbor House is a Christian-based organisation that promotes a God-centered foundation in order to raise men in the community.”
This centre serves as a shelter for men in need of housing, meals, and job placement assistance.
Harbor House, according to Pruitt, has been in operation since 1989. He described it as a community asset, but “tonight puts a scar on that.”
A Henderson city bus arrived around 9:40 p.m. to transport 10 other residents to the Salvation Army for the night. Before boarding, they prayed.
‘Eight or nine shots,’ he says.
Brian McClain is a Harbor resident. He told the Courier & Press that he was resting in the dormitory area before leaving for his third-shift job when a man he thought was the shooter suddenly flipped on the lights.
“He gave me a funny look and turned off the light, and when he left the dorm room, it wasn’t five seconds later that I heard shots,” he said.
He claimed to have heard “eight or nine shots” from a handgun. He leapt out of bed and dashed to the window. He considered breaking it at first.
“Finally, I got my thoughts together and unlocked the window and got out,” he explained. ‘And then another guy ran into the dorm and said, ‘Man, I think I’m shot.’ “And he was shot in the (left) shoulder.”
McClain claimed to be acquainted with at least two of the victims. They were described by him as “two of the most pleasant men you’ve ever met.”
“It’s insane,” he said. “”I don’t know what’s wrong with people, man.”
