Armed intruder shot dead by Coast coroner’s office employee has criminal past, chief says
An employee of the Jackson County coroner’s office is not expected to face criminal charges for fatally shooting a man during an armed home invasion, Police Chief Matt Chapman said Wednesday.
“This gentleman came home and caught a burglar in his house,” Chapman said Wednesday. “The burglar produced a gun and shots were fired.”
The suspect was in a bedroom of the home on Nathan Hale Avenue when the coroner’s office employee came home around 11:40 a.m. Tuesday.
The homeowner had a gun and fired at the armed suspect.
“Shots were fired and the guy (the burglary suspect) fell behind the bed,” Chapman said. ”This gentleman was defending himself in his home.”
The suspect who died was identified by Harrison County Deputy Coroner Brian Switzer as Walter Williams of Pascagoula.
The Jackson County coroner’s office called in Switzer to avoid any potential conflict of interest.
Switzer said Williams was pronounced dead on the scene from multiple gunshot wounds.
Williams, 31, was familiar to authorities because he had a criminal history. Authorities said the burglar was a suspect in several other burglaries in the city.
Police learned of the shooting after the homeowner called to report it at 11:44 a.m. Tuesday.
The results of the investigation will be turned over to the District Attorney’s office so a grand jury can hear evidence in case and determine if any criminal wrongdoing occurred, Chapman said.
An autopsy on Williams is pending.
To report information, call 228-762-2211.
This story was originally published January 8, 2020 at 10:20 AM.
