Moss Point police officer who shot and killed Toussaint Sims returns to work
A Moss Point police officer who shot and killed Toussaint Diamon Sims while he was armed and running from police following a car foot chase has returned to work, Moss Point Police Chief Brandon Ashley said.
Sgt. Lancen Shipman went back to patrolling city streets in the River City about two weeks ago after a doctor who had been treating him released him to return to work.
His return to the job followed the conclusion of an internal investigation into the Aug. 8 shooting death of Sims, 27, of Moss Point.
The internal investigation, Ashley said, resulted in a written reprimand in Shipman’s personnel file over his failure to turn on the audio on his body camera as soon he engaged in a vehicle pursuit and foot chase to take Sims into custody on three misdemeanor and three felony arrest warrants.
“You know, a lot of the officers choose to move on elsewhere when situations like this happen,” Ashley said Wednesday. “He’s a certified officer that enjoys working for the city of Moss Point and loves protecting the citizens of Moss Point. He wanted to come back. We are relieved the investigation is complete and are grateful to have him return to work.”
Shipman had been on administrative leave with pay since the fatal shooting that Ashley has described as “tragic for all parties involved.”
“We are trying to put it behind us at this point,” Ashley said. “We want to move forward. I am thankful for the community’s trust and faith that they have shown us in the last several months during this tragic event.”
Sims died of multiple gunshot wounds after he led authorities on a vehicle pursuit and foot chase that began at a convenience store in Pascagoula and ended near Second Street in Moss Point when Sims jumped out of his car and ran.
Dressed in all black, Sims was running from police with a .9mm semi-automatic pistol with an extended magazine capable of firing 30 rounds at once when Shipman fired at him.
Sims died at the scene and police found his weapon near his body.
A Jackson County grand jury later reviewed evidence in the case, which included police body camera and home surveillance footage of the shooting along with witness testimony, before clearing Shipman of any criminal wrongdoing in Sims’ death.
Sims’ family hired attorneys from The Cochran Firm in Los Angeles, California, and in Mississippi, to represent them in a civil suit they intend to file against the city of Moss Point, Shipman, and the Moss Point Police Department.
This story was originally published November 27, 2019 at 11:18 AM.
