Man suspected in beating death of 75-year-old turns himself in, Gulfport police say 

Gulfport Police said Friday that a man charged with manslaughter in the beating death of a 75-year-old man last November has turned himself in.

Ellis Townsend, 27, is accused in the alleged assault last November in the 2910 block of 25th Avenue.

GPD said in a news release that its investigation found that Townsend, who was considered armed and dangerous, punched the victim multiple times in the head, knocking him down and then continuing the assault. The attack stopped only once bystanders pulled the on-duty security guard off the victim, police said.

Related: Coroner IDs MS Coast man who died after alleged gas station beating as military veteran

Anyone with information regarding this incident or Townsend’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Gulfport Police Department at 228-868-5959 or Mississippi Coast Crime Stoppers at 877-787-5898.

This story was originally published January 30, 2025 at 5:37 PM.