JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
Twenty-four hour convenience stores in Jackson may soon be required to hire security guards. An ordinance to be considered by the City Council require businesses to have security present during the hours of midnight to 5 a.m. at the owners expense.
On July 26th, armed robbers shot and killed a security guard at a Shell gas station on Fortification Street. Councilman Kenneth Stokes said family members of the deceased security guard James McKinney were requesting bullet proof vests also be a requirement.
"To make sure the citizens are safe and that the convenience store owners are safe we have agreed upon using security guards. Now again we're talking about professional security guards. We're not talking about crack heads posing as security guards with guns. We want to make sure everyone is safe when they go to the convenience store," said Councilman Kenneth Stokes.
The Jackson City Council will vote on adopting the security personnel ordinance Tuesday.
Copyright 2011 WLBT. All rights reserved.
WLBT 3 - Fox 40
