SOUTHAVEN, Miss — The DeSoto County Sheriff's Department released a statement after they said deputies shot and killed a man Wednesday morning in Southaven.
The Sheriff's Office said at around 6:00 a.m., their SWAT team served a federal warrant on behalf of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) at the home of Demarcus Williams in Southaven.
The Sheriff's Office said deputies knocked on the door and accounted their presence for a while, but Williams did not respond or answer the door.
Deputies said they finally made contact with Williams through a window, and when they asked him to show his hands and surrender, he refused.
Williams pointed a rifle at a deputy, and the deputy shot Williams in the chest in self-defense, according to DeSoto County.
They said medical aid was attempted "as soon as reasonably possible" on Williams, but he died on the scene.
According to DeSoto County, Williams' criminal record includes murder, assault, aggravated robbery, multiple drug charges multiple gun charges.
"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," said DeSoto County Chief Deputy Justin Smith. "Unfortunately, we had a tragic loss of life, but it could have been avoided with compliance. This is especially true in incidents such as this when law enforcement is present and acting well within Constitutional boundaries.”