Mother and daughter found dead in home; suspect shot hours later, police say

LONG BEACH, Miss. (WLOX/Gray News) - Two women were found dead inside a Mississippi home Friday, and a suspect was later shot by deputies in Florida, authorities said.

The women were identified as Doris Crimmins, 84, and her daughter, Kimberly Hernandez, 63, both of Long Beach. Crimmins’ death appeared to be natural, while Hernandez’s death is being investigated as a homicide, Switzer said.

Long Beach police responded to the home around 10:15 a.m. after a reported shooting and found both women dead inside.

Switzer said Crimmins owned the home and was receiving hospice care for cardiac issues. Hernandez lived there with her mother.

Investigators named Richard Timothy Ward, Crimmins’ son and Hernandez’s brother, as a suspect, according to Long Beach Police Chief Billy Seal.

Police identified a vehicle involved in the incident and later found Ward and the vehicle in Pensacola, Florida, Seal said.

Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons said in a video posted to Facebook that deputies and highway patrol officers learned around 2:15 p.m. that a homicide suspect was staying at a nearby motel.

Deputies made contact with Ward, who pulled out a gun, Simmons said. After deputies gave him several commands to put the weapon away, Ward fired at them, the sheriff said.

Three deputies returned fire and struck Ward, Simmons said. He was taken to a hospital for treatment.