In the quiet coastal city of Pascagoula, Mississippi, a vibrant hub of industry and community, a chilling tragedy unfolded on the morning of August 22, 2025, at Ingalls Shipbuilding, the state’s largest manufacturing employer and a cornerstone of U.S. naval shipbuilding. The sprawling 800-acre shipyard, where over 10,000 workers craft vessels for the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, became the scene of a heartbreaking workplace shooting that claimed the life of one employee and sent shockwaves through the tight-knit community.

At approximately 7:30 a.m., aboard a vessel under construction—reportedly near the destroyer *Jeremiah Denton* (DDG-129), set to be commissioned in 2026—gunfire shattered the morning’s routine. The victim, identified by authorities as Tahj Johnson, a dedicated painter at Ingalls, was fatally shot. The sudden violence prompted an immediate lockdown of the shipyard, with workers urged to shelter in place as sirens echoed across the facility and law enforcement swarmed the scene.

The alleged shooter, 25-year-old Curtis James Jr., a fellow Ingalls employee from Mobile, Alabama, was swiftly apprehended by Pascagoula Police. Authorities revealed that the incident may have been fueled by a prior altercation between Johnson and James earlier in the week, pointing to a workplace dispute that tragically escalated. Pascagoula Police Chief Terry Scott, addressing the media, described the incident as a targeted act, emphasizing that no additional injuries were reported. However, the firearm used in the shooting remains missing, adding a layer of mystery to the ongoing investigation.

As the shipyard’s security team coordinated with local and federal law enforcement, including the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, the focus was on securing the massive facility and ensuring the safety of its workers. “We are deeply saddened by the passing of a fellow shipbuilder,” said Danny Hernandez, an Ingalls spokesperson, in a statement that captured the collective grief. “We extend our deepest sympathy and condolences to the employee’s family and friends during this difficult time.” Out of respect for the family’s privacy, further details about Johnson’s life have been withheld.

The lockdown, which gripped the shipyard for several hours, was lifted by mid-morning, and employees were sent home for the day with pay—a small gesture of compassion amid the tragedy. Ingalls Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), also announced that grief counseling services would be made available to support its workforce, many of whom were shaken by the loss of a colleague in such a sudden and violent manner.

Whispers of a possible connection to a separate incident emerged, with reports suggesting that the suspect’s wife was found deceased the previous night, potentially linked to a domestic-related motive. Authorities have not officially confirmed this connection, stressing that the investigation is active and ongoing. They have, however, assured the public that the shooting appears to be an isolated incident, with no further threat to the community.

Ingalls Shipbuilding, a pillar of Pascagoula’s economy for 85 years, employs thousands from the Mississippi Gulf Coast and nearby Mobile, Alabama. The shipyard’s role as a leading supplier of naval destroyers and amphibious warships underscores its significance, making this tragedy all the more jarring for a community accustomed to its steady presence. Mississippi Senator Jeremy England, in a heartfelt statement, expressed gratitude for the swift response of law enforcement and shared the collective sorrow: “This is heartbreaking, and this has been a very scary event for many of us with family and friends that work at Ingalls.”

As Pascagoula, a city of about 22,000 residents, grapples with the aftermath, the incident raises broader questions about workplace safety and conflict resolution in high-pressure industrial environments. For now, the community mourns Tahj Johnson, a shipbuilder whose life was cut short in a moment of senseless violence, while authorities work to uncover the full story behind this devastating day.