‘Senseless act.’ Gautier man shot at 2 military members, killed a passerby after pool game.
Luis Soto Jr. said he had “been drinking a lot” of alcohol and playing pool with a couple of military service members at a Jackson County bar when he got angry and pulled out a gun.
The service members left the bar after the gun came out, but Soto left too.
The 29-year-old welder from Gautier followed the two active-duty service members when they left in a Ford F-250, District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath said.
Not long after, Soto was in his vehicle when he grabbed his gun and fired shots into the pickup, injuring the two service members.
Traffic from a shift change at Ingalls Shipyard was heavy about 11:07 p.m. Jan. 25, 2018, when a 911 caller told police someone was shooting at their vehicle on Jerry St. Pé Highway, the access road to Ingalls.
After shooting at the truck, Soto turned and drove the wrong way on U.S. 90, where he shot and killed motorcyclist Leland Sumrall while he was stopped in Pascagoula.
Sumrall had not been to the bar, but was on his way home from work.
On Tuesday, Soto pleaded guilty to one count second-degree murder, two counts of aggravated assault, and one count of shooting into a dwelling in connection with the incident.
Soto told Judge Dale Harkey he fired 10 rounds from his .9-mm handgun, but said he didn’t know why.
The judge called what happened “a horrible, senseless act” before he sentenced Soto to a total of 85 years on all counts, with 40 years to serve day-for-day without the possibility of parole.
At the time of the incident, Pascagoula police described what had happened as a road rage incident.
On Tuesday, Sumrall’s family described the pain and anguish they continue to experience as a result of the loss of devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
“He liked his work and spent more than 40 years working in the shipyard building industry, where he was well thought of,” a relative said on behalf of Sumrall family.
After the shooting, the relative said, Sumrall’s friends and others gathered around him to offer him comfort.
The Sumrall family asked the judge to impose the maximum sentence for the crimes.
“Leland Sumrall was simply on his way home from work when he innocently crossed paths with the defendant,” McIlrath said. “In a matter of minutes, the defendant shot at two of our service members and senselessly stole the life of Mr. Sumrall. As I listened, in court, to the family of Leland Sumrall speak of him, I couldn’t help but feel what a tremendous loss this community has experienced.
“My hope is that his family will now be able to move forward in their healing. I am proud we were able to get the justice they needed and deserved. Mr. Soto’s other victims continue to serve our country in the military, and I am grateful they were spared from injury. I want to thank the Pascagoula Police Department whose excellent investigation ensured that Mr. Soto was convicted and punished for his callous and depraved acts. We will continue to vigorously prosecute those who commit violent acts against our citizens.”
This story was originally published February 18, 2020 at 11:51 AM.
