Investigators with the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI) have released more details surrounding the officer-involved shooting that occurred Wednesday at a residence on Clark Avenue in Southaven.
According to the MBI, deputies with the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Department and SWAT Team were attempting to execute an arrest warrant for 32-year-old Demarcus Williams at the residence before 6:30 a.m.
Chief Deputy Justin Smith later released that no occupants answered the door after officers arrived and requested for Williams to exit the residence.
The deputies made contact with Williams through a window of the house shortly after and ordered him to show his hands, but he allegedly refused to comply.
Williams then got a rifle and pointed it at a deputy, leading the law enforcement officer to shoot the suspect in the chest.
First aid was administered to Williams’ gunshot wound, with the suspect later dying at the scene from his injuries. The deputies involved did not receive any serious physical injuries during this incident.
“In a world of increasing violence and degradation of the law enforcement profession, these incidents can be minimized by complying with the multiple commands Mr. Williams was given,” Smith said. “Unfortunately, we had a tragic loss of life, but it could have been avoided with compliance.”
Smith has since added that Williams was going to be taken into custody for four federal indictments and had previously been charged with murder, assault, aggravated robbery, several drug charges, and gun charges.
