In the quiet community of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, a man's life was unexpectedly cut short in a tragic incident. John Schmidt, a 65-year-old male, died on January 2, 2018, from what was determined to be an accidental, self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Having recently embarked on a new chapter in his long career in law enforcement, Schmidt had joined the Hancock County Sheriff's Department as a part-time deputy on December 18, just a couple of weeks prior to his death. He was in the process of obtaining his reserve certification. Before this, he had a distinguished career with the New Orleans Police Department and had also served as a reserve officer with the Madison, Mississippi Police Department for three years before his retirement from law enforcement in 2000.
Beyond his service in law enforcement, Schmidt was a dedicated educator, having taught civics and psychology at Archbishop Rummel High School for 16 years. His commitment to public service and education left a lasting mark on those who knew him.
The unfortunate incident occurred at his home in Bayside Park. According to the initial investigation, Schmidt was cleaning a personal firearm when the weapon discharged, inflicting a fatal wound to his chest. First responders were called to his residence on West Newtown Street in the early evening. He was transported to a local medical center and then airlifted to the University Medical Center in New Orleans, but ultimately succumbed to his injury. The death was ruled an accident, and as a result, there were no arrests made or suspects sought in connection with the incident.
