Community members react to recent standoff in Itawamba County

GOLDEN, Miss. (WCBI) – Neighbors in Itawamba County are praising law enforcement for ending a hostage standoff.

A 10-year-old child is safe with her mother, unharmed after being held by an apparent armed gunman.

It was a standoff that lasted more than 30 hours.

Family members say Paul Blackburn was at home with his daughters when an apparent altercation took place with his friend Nathan Sheperd.

Itawamba County Sheriff Chris Dickinson says Blackburn was the father of the ten-year-old. A second child escaped and managed to call 911.

The Sheriff says Blackburn most likely died from a gunshot wound around 1 p.m. on Saturday.

The MHP SWAT team entered the house just after 9 p.m. on Sunday.

The suspect was dead. The child, unharmed.

It is a story that has rocked the small community.

For the most part, Alice Hall Road in Golden, Mississippi is a relatively quiet neighborhood.

The people who live here never expected to witness a hostage situation involving a ten-year-old child.

“I was really worried for the little girl. That’s the first that we heard was that there was a small child being held hostage. I have kids of my own and that was what worried me,” said community member Kendra Gray.

“I am so happy that the girl is released. Unfortunately, whatever happened, it’s really sad, but I was praying really hard for that little girl because you never know what was going on in there,” said community member Patricia Cazrez.

What was going on, according to the sheriff, was a fight between two men that turned deadly.

That’s when the suspect, Nathan Sheperd, held off law officers for hours on end.

“I was very shocked at the length. I heard it on the news and I thought, oh maybe a couple hours, and then you know you would check back every few hours and it would still be going on so yeah that was shocking,” said Gray.

Members of the community all agree on one thing they are glad to see the little girl safe.

“Praise the Lord! I think we had a lot of people praying for her and her safety. I’m really happy that she was able to go home to her family,” said Gray.

And when it comes to the officers involved with the rescue, the community is thankful.

“I think our law enforcement officers do a good job at keeping us safe, so I think that was just a … once in a blue moon thing, so I do feel very safe,” said Gray.

“I just think they done a good job,” said community member Rhonda Wilson.

The investigation into what exactly started the situation is ongoing.