Mississippi Man Dies After Breaking Window at Former Elementary School

A Mississippi man has died from severe injuries he sustained while breaking into his former elementary school in Jackson. David Bridges, 38, was attempting to enter Lake Elementary School through a window on Sunday when he was critically injured, according to Hinds County Coroner officials.

Jackson police responded to the scene and found Bridges already injured. He later died from blood loss due to severed arteries, officials reported. Bridges' family stated that he had been experiencing grief, which may have contributed to the incident. They also indicated that the broken glass from the window cut one of his main arteries.

Friends and family gathered near the school on Monday to remember Bridges. A friend, Calesha Esco, described him as "an outspoken person, a respectful person, a loving person," adding that while he had flaws, he was "a genuinely good person."

Lake Elementary School has been closed for several years and its building is now used by the Jackson Public School District (JPS) for at-risk high school students. JPS reported that the damage to the building was minor and that the affected areas were secured and cleaned. Classes were not interrupted on Monday.

"The safety and well-being of our scholars and staff remain the district's highest priority," JPS said in a statement. The incident is currently under investigation as officials work to gather more details.