Marshall County authorities have identified Lorenzo Gipson, 56, of Marshall County as the man who was shot and killed Thursday morning by a landowner who caught the suspect stealing scrap metal from his property.
Gipson was pronounced dead at the scene.
The property owner, Andra Raymond Matthews, told police he shot the suspect during a confrontation after he caught the man stealing from his property off Miss. 310, near the Lafayette County line, about 11 a.m. Thursday morning.
Matthews, who is a correctional officer in Memphis, told authorities the suspect came at him with a hatchet during the confrontation.
"When we got there, the suspect still had the hatchet in his hand when he fell dead," said Marshall County Sheriff Kenny Dickerson.....
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/sep/22/memphis-corretional-officer-kills-trespasser-marsh/
....."He's shaken up about the whole situation," said Matthews' daughter.
Investigators suspect Gipson had been selling items from the Matthews property to a scrap yard in Byhalia, Mississippi.
At this point, they consider it a clear cut case of self-defense although the district attorney will ultimately decide whether prosecution is warranted.
"A life was lost today," said Matthews' daughter.
While there was no celebration, the Matthews family was relieved their loved one was the one left standing.
http://www.wlox.com/story/15525509/deputies-crook-killed-over-scrap-metal-theft