During the December 19 meeting of the Hattiesburg City Council, a resolution authorizing city attorney Randy Pope to take action in Forrest County Chancery Court as an effort to prevent further acts of violence at a business operating as Dragon House, located at 6131 U.S. 49.
The measure was passed via a 4-0 vote.
This resolution resulted from the Hattiesburg Police Department responding to several incidents involving aggravated assault, petit larceny, auto larceny, armed robbery, simple assault, malicious mischief, grand theft auto, disorderly conduct, illegal possession of firearms and underage drinking.
The latest incident occurred on December 9, when Hattiesburg police officers responded to a shooting in the parking lot of the establishment. Upon arrival, officers learned that three people had been shot and had been transported to Forrest General Hospital.
Numerous shell casings were recovered by officers in and around the Dragon House.
After hearing officer accounts in an executive session, the Hattiesburg City Council and officials from the City of Hattiesburg have determined that the continued and repeated occurrences of incidents taking place in and near the business continues to endanger the safety, protection and welfare of its patrons, area residents and businesses, meeting the definition of a public nuisance.
Within the next few days, Pope will take action in chancery court to “permanently abate the public nuisance operating as the Dragon House” as dictated by Resolution 2023-172, passed by the Hattiesburg City Council.
