Klondyke open again, bond set at $50K for alleged shooter

Published 7:23 pm Friday, February 23, 2018

Bond was set at $50,000 for a Vicksburg man charged with aggravated assault in a Wednesday night shooting at the Klondyke, 100 North Washington St.

Municipal Judge Penny Lawson set the bond for James Jeffery McBroom, 58, No. 5 Hayfield Road, at an initial appearance in court Friday morning. McBroom is accused of shooting Billy Joe Harrison, 64, also of Vicksburg, in the chest. As of Friday, Harrison was listed in fair condition at University of Mississippi Medical Center.

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The shooting forced city officials to close the bar area of the Klondyke pending a meeting between business owner David Day, Mayor George Flaggs Jr. and Police Chief Milton Moore.

Flaggs said Friday afternoon he and Day signed an agreement outlining steps to improve security and safety at the restaurant.

“He has set out a plan of action that was agreeable to Chief Moore and me,” Flaggs said. “The agreement will be presented to the board March 9 for approval.”

He said Day was allowed to re-open the bar Friday.

According to the agreement, Day will:

• Set a zero tolerance policy for any disturbance, argument or other conflict between guests anywhere on the premises. At the first sign of any such activity, the police will be called.

• The staff will be trained to take action at the first sign of a disturbance.

• Security will be hired for the lounge hours starting at 9 p.m. on nights when the number of patrons is expected to reach or exceed 50 percent capacity. The policy will remain in place for at least 30 days and until Day and Moore agree that it is no longer needed.

• The staff will ask police to walk through the business from time to time.

Harrison was shot in the restaurant’s parking lot during a fight that began about 9 p.m. inside the restaurant and spilled out into the parking lot.

Initial reports from police indicated Harrison had a knife during the fight, but Vicksburg police Sgt. Johnnie Edwards said a subsequent review of the video from the business indicted no knife was shown, and the shooter held a gun on him before shooting.

He said the video showed McBroom approach Harrison from around a car in the parking lot, point the gun and shoot Harrison.

About John Surratt

John Surratt is a graduate of Louisiana State University with a degree in general studies. He has worked as an editor, reporter and photographer for newspapers in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. He has been a member of The Vicksburg Post staff since 2011 and covers city government. He and his wife attend St. Paul Catholic Church and he is a member of the Port City Kiwanis Club.

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