A tragic and shocking incident unfolded in Poplarville, Mississippi, where a woman is now behind bars after allegedly shooting and killing her husband in broad daylight just moments after finalizing their divorce.
Tanya Saucier, 49, was waiting in her car outside the Lenoir Rowell Criminal Justice Center on Tuesday morning. According to the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Office, she had been waiting for her now ex-husband, James Ray Saucier, to leave the courthouse after wrapping up their divorce proceedings. When James stepped outside, Tanya reportedly pulled out a 9 mm handgun and shot him multiple times, stunning everyone present.
This tragedy happened in front of numerous witnesses, including lawyers, courtgoers, and even Tanya’s own attorney, Jansen Owen. He later shared that the couple’s relationship had been “volatile,” which is why they were required to attend their final court meeting separately. The session itself wasn’t even planned—it was a last-minute arrangement to finalize their divorce.
According to Pearl River County Sheriff’s Office Lead Investigator Maj. Scott Allee, Tanya used a handgun with a 15-round magazine during the shooting. The attack happened just before 1 p.m., shortly after James left the courthouse. His attorney, Don Rafferty, recalled the horrifying moment, saying he was “handling some paperwork when things went crossways.”
Tanya was arrested at the scene and now faces a murder charge. Her attorney, who is also a state representative, expressed his outrage, stating, “What Miss Saucier did is unjustifiable. There is no excuse for anyone to open fire in public like that.”
The shocking nature of the incident has raised questions about courthouse security in Mississippi. Owen pointed out that the state has a major issue with lax security at such facilities, which could allow incidents like this to happen. Maj. Allee confirmed that federal funding has been allocated to improve courthouse safety, but the specifics remain unclear.
This tragedy has left both families in deep grief and shock. While loved ones were aware of the couple’s issues, no one expected things to escalate this far. James Saucier’s relative, Wordie Carroll, expressed heartbreak over the loss, saying, “I wish they could have worked out their problems in a peaceful way.” Another family member, Johanna Peterson, shared her frustration, adding, “She’s taken a grandfather away from seven grandchildren. He had a daughter and a son.”
Adding another layer of complexity, court records reveal that James had been indicted earlier this year on charges of aggravated assault and domestic violence with a deadly weapon. However, his lawyer maintained that James was acting in self-defense against Tanya’s alleged aggression.
Regardless of past issues, those close to the case agree on one thing—violence is never the answer. As Owen said, “We do not do vigilante justice in America.”
