By Staff
MEDIA FRENZY Lauderdale County Sheriff Billy Sollie speaks to the media about the shooting at the Lockheed Martin Plant on Tuesday. A lone, heavily armed gunman identified as Lockheed employee Doug Williams apparently shot and killed five co-workers before fatally shooting himself. Photo by Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star
By Jared Florreich / staff writer
July 9, 2003
Former 3rd District U.S. Rep. G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery said he was stunned Tuesday by the shooting at the Lockheed-Martin manufacturing plant in Lauderdale County.
Montgomery was one of several former and current public officials who expressed sorrow over the Tuesday events. Some, like Gov. Ronnie Musgrove, personally traveled to Meridian.
U.S. Rep. Chip Pickering, who holds Montgomery's former congressional seat, also was saddened. Said Pickering: "We extend our sympathy and our prayers to the families and friends of the victims today at Lockheed-Martin."
U.S. Sen. Trent Lott said he offered his prayers for the victims.
Montgomery said he had not yet been to the Lockheed-Martin plant since the shooting. But he said he plans to do so once everything settles down.
Montgomery played an instrumental role in attracting Lockheed-Martin to the Montgomery Industrial Park. He also was a helpful voice to Lockheed-Martin in Washington.
In all his years of public service, Montgomery said he couldn't remember a more serious Mississippi tragedy.