In the small town of Poplarville, Mississippi, a volatile divorce culminated in a tragic and public death. James Ray Saucier, a 62-year-old man, was shot and killed on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, just moments after his divorce was finalized. The fatal encounter occurred outside the Pearl River County courthouse, a place meant to dispense justice, which instead became a scene of violence.
On that Tuesday morning, James Ray Saucier and his estranged wife, 49-year-old Tanya Saucier, were at
the Lenoir Rowell Criminal Justice Center for the conclusion of their divorce proceedings. The relationship was reportedly so contentious that they had to enter the courthouse separately. Shortly before 1 p.m., after the divorce was finalized, James Saucier exited the building. It was then that Tanya Saucier, who had been waiting in her car, allegedly opened fire, shooting her ex-husband multiple times. First responders attempted to revive him, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The shooting unfolded in broad daylight, with courtgoers and lawyers as witnesses. Among them was Tanya Saucier's own attorney, who stated he witnessed the murder and described it as unjustifiable. Another witness, an employee at a nearby service station, reported hearing about five initial shots, followed by more. Police arrived within a minute of the shooting.
Tanya Saucier, a retired Army veteran, was arrested at the scene by the Poplarville Police Department and has been charged with murder. She is being held at the Pearl River County jail.
This violent end to their marriage was preceded by other instances of conflict. Court records show that James Saucier had been indicted in August on charges of aggravated assault and domestic violence with a deadly weapon for allegedly shooting Tanya Saucier a year prior. His trial for that incident was scheduled for the following March. However, his lawyer maintained that he had been acting in self-defense. Family members of James Saucier described him as a good man and believed the prior shooting was in self-defense, wishing more had been done to prevent the courthouse tragedy.
