A campgrounds manager lost her job this week after pulling a gun on a black couple that was trying to have a picnic.
The confrontation occurred Sunday at a Kampgrounds of America spot in Starkville, Mississippi. Jessica Richardson captured the moment on video and shared it on social media.
“RACISM IS ALIVE AND WELL!” she captioned the clip. “Today was a beautiful day so my husband (who’s a vet), our 2 year old dog, and myself, decided to Google a lake to visit and have a picnic. We found a lake located in Starkville, MS and decided to visit. Not five mins later a truck pulls up and a white lady screams at us, she then jumps out of her truck with a Gun. And proceeded to point it at the 3 of us, simply because we didnt make reservations.”
The gun-wielding woman has since been identified as Ruby Howell, according to the Huffington Post.
As you can see in the video above, the campgrounds manager is holding a firearm while instructing the couple to leave the premises because they did not have a reservation near the lake. Richardson and her husband, Franklin, tell the manager they didn’t know a reservation was required. They then packed up there things and left the area … but not before stopping by the KOA office and speaking to another employee who happened to be Howell’s husband.
“I get out and start talking to him, Franklin told WCBI.” The first thing he says is ‘Oh, you don’t need a reservation for the lake.’ Then she pulls up flying, hops out the car, then proceeded to yell at my wife, ‘get in the car, you need to get back in the car,’ just cussing her out and she’s not even saying anything.”
Shortly after Richardson’s video went viral, KOA released a statement announcing Ruby Howell’s termination.
“Kampgrounds of America does not condone the use of a firearm in any manner on our properties or those owned and operated by our franchisees,” the company wrote. “The employee involved in the incident has been relieved of her duties at the Starkville KOA.”
