In the coastal city of Pascagoula, Mississippi, a serene Friday morning was shattered by a violent act that left a community in mourning and a sprawling shipyard on high alert. At approximately 7:32 a.m. on August 22, 2025, the Pascagoula Police Department received a chilling report of an active shooter at Ingalls Shipbuilding, the largest private employer in Mississippi and a cornerstone of the U.S. Navy’s shipbuilding prowess. What unfolded was a tragedy rooted in personal turmoil, claiming the life of a dedicated shipyard worker and exposing a web of domestic strife that culminated in a devastating act of violence.
The chaos began on a ship under construction at the 800-acre shipyard, where more than 11,000 workers craft guided-missile destroyers and amphibious warships for the U.S. Navy. Amid the clanging of steel and the hum of industry, gunfire erupted, sending shockwaves through the facility. When police arrived, they discovered a grim scene: a painter, employed at Ingalls, lay dead, felled by fatal gunshot wounds. The victim’s identity has been withheld pending notification of their family, but their loss has left a profound void among colleagues and loved ones.
Authorities swiftly identified the suspect as Curtis James Jr., a 25-year-old Ingalls employee from nearby Mobile, Alabama. By 9 a.m., after a tense search across the vast shipyard, James was apprehended without further incident. The Pascagoula Police Department, supported by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department and multiple federal agencies, moved decisively to secure the facility, urging workers to shelter in place as they combed through warehouses and buildings. The lockdown, which gripped the shipyard for several hours, underscored the gravity of the situation as law enforcement ensured the safety of thousands of employees and Navy personnel on site.
As investigators pieced together the events, a heartbreaking motive emerged, one that transformed the shooting from a workplace tragedy into a deeply personal vendetta. Authorities revealed that the incident was linked to a domestic dispute with roots in betrayal and loss. Earlier that morning, police discovered the body of James’ wife at a residence, with evidence suggesting she had been killed the previous night. The man shot at Ingalls, investigators believe, was targeted due to his alleged romantic involvement with James’ wife, casting a shadow of jealousy and rage over the deadly encounter. Pascagoula Police Chief Terry Scott noted that an altercation between James and the victim earlier in the week may have been a precursor to the violence, though the firearm used in the shooting has yet to be recovered.
Ingalls Shipbuilding, a titan of American naval manufacturing, issued a somber statement through spokesperson Danny Hernandez: “We are deeply saddened by the passing of a fellow shipbuilder who was fatally shot this morning. We extend our deepest sympathy and condolences to the employee’s family and friends during this difficult time.” The company, which has built vessels for the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard for 85 years, emphasized its commitment to supporting law enforcement and ensuring the safety of its workforce. The shelter-in-place order, a stark reminder of the incident’s severity, was eventually lifted, but the emotional toll lingered.
The shooting sent ripples beyond the shipyard’s gates, prompting Mississippi Senator Jeremy England to issue a heartfelt statement: “This is heartbreaking, and this has been a very scary event for many of us with family and friends that work at Ingalls. I am very thankful for our law enforcement officers from all across our county this morning for responding and taking immediate action.” His words echoed the sentiments of a community grappling with grief and gratitude for the swift response that prevented further loss.
As the investigation continues, authorities have stressed that the shooting was an isolated incident with no ongoing threat to the public. Yet, for the workers of Ingalls Shipbuilding and the residents of Pascagoula, the scars of this day will endure. A workplace that powers the nation’s defense became, for a fleeting moment, a stage for personal tragedy, leaving a painter’s life extinguished and a community searching for answers. The story of Curtis James Jr. and the lives he forever altered serves as a stark reminder of how quickly personal pain can erupt into public tragedy, forever changing the fabric of a close-knit coastal town.