William Thomas “Tommy” Chisholm, 41, of Kosciusko has been charged with capital murder after he reportedly shot and killed Shauna Witt, 42, inside the Starkville Walmart store 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 store on Highway 12.
Chisholm was scheduled for an initial court appearance Wednesday, but due to weather conditions, Starkville Municipal Court was not held on its normal schedule. At the time of this posting, it was unclear when Chisholm's court appearance will be held.
Starkville Police Chief Frank Nichols told the media Saturday that his department was called to the store around 9:30 a.m. that morning, and that Witt was taken to the hospital around 9:58 a.m. She was pronounced dead just a few minutes after her arrival at the hospital.
A Walmart shopper from Eupora posted video online of police apprehending Chisholm in the store parking lot. He is heard imploring police to kill him as he is handcuffed by Starkville officers.
According to Kosciusko Municipal Court records, Chisholm was out on a felony bond related to a separate incident involving Witt at the time of the murder. He was due to appear in court on those felony malicious mischief charges Jan. 23. The felony status is due to the value of damage being above $1,000.
Kosciusko Municipal Court Judge L. Scott Pickle said Tuesday that the hearing in that case will be postponed until after Chisholm answers to the more serious murder charges.
News reports from 2012 indicate Chisholm had also previously been involved in a standoff with police in Madison County.
Meanwhile, friends, family and colleagues of Witt mourn her loss.
Dr. Tonyatta Hairston, president of the Mississippi Optometric Association, released a statement about 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.”
