The newly named Director of Investigations of the Mississippi Gaming Commission died Wednesday following an accidental shooting in Tunica County.
John Gorman been the branch director of the Gaming Commission's Vicksburg office, and was named Director of Investigations on Tuesday, according to The Clarion-Ledger.
Officials said that the incident occurred about 9 a.m. at the commission office near Tunica's Casino Strip.
"From what I know, it was during a training exercise and it was an accidental discharge," Mississippi Gaming Commission Executive Director Allen Godfrey told the newspaper.
This is the first loss of an employee in the nearly 22 years the Gaming Commission has operated.
Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace knew Gorman and had worked closely with him.
"During the time he has been assigned to the Vicksburg office, he has partnered with Warren County Sheriff's Office investigators in multiple criminal investigations," he said. "He was a very professional, courteous officer. We are all saddened by his death."
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is handling the case.
Funeral arrangements are pending.