Armed Carjacking Suspect Arrested in Gulfport After Dramatic Test-Drive Incident

Gulfport, MS (BuzzReport)— A Gulfport man is behind bars after police say he turned an ordinary test drive into a harrowing armed carjacking and kidnapping on Monday morning. 

According to the Gulfport Police Department, officers responded just before 11 a.m. on September 8 to a report of a carjacking on Dedeaux Road. Investigators determined that 33-year-old Reginald Donovan Johnson had posed as a potential car buyer before brandishing a firearm and forcing a dealership employee into a dangerous ordeal. 

Authorities say Johnson persuaded the employee to accompany him on a test drive. Midway through, he revealed a handgun and ordered the victim to drive to an undisclosed location. After arriving, Johnson allegedly stole the employee’s cellphone at gunpoint and forced the victim from the vehicle before fleeing the scene in the stolen car. 

Detectives quickly launched an investigation and, through witness statements and follow-up leads, identified Johnson as the suspect. The stolen vehicle was later recovered, and officers located Johnson soon after, taking him into custody without incident. 

Johnson now faces a trio of serious felony charges: Armed Robbery, Armed Carjacking, and Kidnapping. He was booked into the Harrison County Adult Detention Center, where his bond was set at $1.5 million by Judge Fountain. 

Police are calling for anyone with additional information about the incident to come forward. Tips can be directed to the Gulfport Police Department at 228-868-5959 or submitted anonymously through Mississippi Crime Stoppers at 877-787-5898.

The case remains under active investigation.