Biloxi driver dead after Gulfport-Biloxi police chase, authorities say
A Biloxi man involved in a police chase that began in Gulfport and ended in Biloxi died of multiple gunshots wounds in an Alabama hospital.
Harrison County Coroner Brian Switzer identified the man as Malcolm Matthews, 39. Matthews died at the Mobile hospital several days after the July 1 shooting from multiple gunshot wounds, the coroner said.
Matthews allegedly fired at police officers during the chase.
Gulfport police first attempted to stop Matthews, who was driving a white U-Haul van, for speeding the day on the day of the chase, but then called off that pursuit.
A short time later, Gulfport police spotted the U-Haul van a second time and attempted to pull the driver over, according to the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, the agency handling the independent investigation into the shooting.
Matthews drove off, leading officers on a high-speed pursuit into Biloxi until Matthews stopped near a boat ramp in a vacant parking lot on U.S. 90 across from Treasure Bay Casino and Resort in Biloxi.
Authorities said Matthews was initially shot and injured at the scene in an exchange of gunfire.
A witness who had just caught a ride in Uber to pick up his car filmed part of the police chase on his phone.
Vince Absher, said he first saw the van when he and the Uber drive were on Rodenberg Avenue waiting to turn onto U.S. 90 and headed west toward Gulfport.
“We saw this U-Haul blow through the stoplight with all the police behind it,” he said. “It was headed east toward Biloxi. We thought, ‘Well, that was pretty interesting.’”
A short time later, the van barreled up behind them.
The Uber driver swerved to avoid being hit.
“He blew by us going about 80 mph,” Absher said. “We got lucky. We almost got hit.”
Absher saw the driver stop and the exchange of gunfire with police.
“It’s the weirdest thing to be driving, and within two minutes you see a high-speed chase and then a shootout,” he said. “The next thing you know, you’re just going back to work.”
The independent investigation into the shooting is continuing.
