William Thomas “Tommy” Chisholm, 41, of Kosciusko will appear in court Wednesday on capital murder charges after he reportedly shot and killed Shauna Witt, 42, inside the Starkville Walmart Saturday morning.
The two had reportedly been in an “on again, off again” dating relationship. Witt was an optometrist whose practice was inside the Walmart facility.
Starkville Police Chief Frank Nichols told the media his department was called to the Highway 12 store around 9:30 a.m. Saturday morning, and that Witt was taken to the hospital around 9:58 a.m. She was pronounced dead just a few minutes later.
A Walmart shopper from Eupora posted video online of police apprehending Chisholm in the store’s parking area. He is heard imploring police to kill him as he is handcuffed by officers.
According to Nichols, Chisholm was out on a felony bond relating to a separate incident that also involved Witt at the time of the murder.
News reports from 2012 indicate Chisholm had at that time been involved in a standoff with police in Madison County.
Dr. Tonyatta Hairston, president of the Mississippi Optometric Association released a statement bout Witt.
“It is with great sorrow that the Mississippi Optometric Association (MOA) extends our sincere condolences to the family of our beloved colleague Dr. Shauna Witt,” the statement reads. “Dr. Witt was an active member of the MOA since graduating from Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN in 2001. She served her patients for over 17 years with kindness, concern, and compassion. She will be mourned for her beautiful spirit, kind heart, and loving personality. Dr. Witt will be truly be missed.”
