A man died Thursday morning after police say he broke into a 21st Street home armed with a knife and a hammer and was shot by a resident who had a protective order against him. Officers were called just after 7 a.m., and the Harrison County coroner later identified the man as 29-year-old Dangelo Murphy of Gulfport.
The case drew attention because investigators say both women inside the home had active protective orders against the man before the break-in. Police say one woman received a minor knife wound and both retreated to another room, where the uninjured woman retrieved a firearm and opened fire. Detectives are interviewing witnesses and collecting evidence from the scene while determining whether any charges are warranted. Authorities had not released details about the relationship between the man and the residents or whether earlier reports had been filed related to the orders.
According to police, the first 911 call came a little after 7 a.m. from a home on 21st Street, a residential stretch in Gulfport. Investigators say the man entered through a window and confronted two women inside while carrying a knife and a hammer. One woman suffered a minor injury consistent with a knife wound and, along with the second woman, barricaded herself in another room. Police say the uninjured woman then obtained a gun and fired, striking the man. “He was out on bond for kidnapping,” Lt. Jason Ducre said, describing the man’s legal status before the break-in. The man was pronounced dead after being taken for treatment, authorities said.
Officials said both residents had active protective orders prior to the incident. Harrison County Coroner Brian Switzer identified the man as Dangelo Murphy, 29, of Gulfport. Police did not immediately say how many shots were fired, the type of firearm used, or whether the gun belonged to the resident. Investigators also did not disclose how recently the protective orders were issued, who petitioned for them, or whether officers had responded to earlier calls at the address. Detectives processed the window where the man allegedly entered and photographed a room where the women barricaded themselves, according to a brief police summary. No officers were injured, and no other occupants were reported inside the home.
Gulfport has seen a series of domestic-related cases reach the criminal courts this year, and protective orders are common filings in Harrison County Youth and County courts. In this case, investigators emphasized the orders were already active when the man arrived at the home. The initial description of the intruder’s tools — a knife and a hammer — aligned with the first 911 report. Neighbors along 21st Street typically see morning traffic from nearby workplaces, and police activity shortly after sunrise drew attention to the block. The department did not release body-camera footage or dispatch audio on Thursday. The coroner’s office confirmed it would handle next-of-kin notifications and standard postmortem procedures.
Police said the inquiry remains open. Investigators will review statements from the two women, analyze physical evidence collected at the entry point and inside the room where they took shelter, and compile the case file for prosecutors. As of Friday, no arrests or charges had been announced in connection with the shooting. Authorities did not say when they expect to complete the review. Any future charging decisions would come from the local prosecutor after investigators deliver their findings, a routine step in shooting cases. The coroner’s office will finalize cause and manner of death after its examination and forward documents to detectives once complete.
By late morning, the home remained secured as police worked the scene. Officers moved in and out of the property while crime-scene technicians documented the window investigators say was used to get inside. A police spokesperson reiterated the timeline and confirmed that one woman’s injury was minor. “He was out on bond for kidnapping,” Ducre said, noting the man’s legal status but providing no additional background. The department said it would release updates when more information is confirmed.
Investigators have not provided an estimated time for their next briefing. The case remains under review, with evidence processing and interviews continuing into the weekend.
Author note: Last updated December 20, 2025.