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GULFPORT, Miss. – Months after an assault that resulted in the death of a 75-year-old man, the suspect has surrendered to authorities, according to the Gulfport Police Department (GPD).
Ellis Townsend, 27, turned himself in on Friday morning after being wanted on a manslaughter charge. The incident, which took place on November 18, 2024, at Dodge’s Southern Style on Highway 49, involved Townsend—who was working as a security guard at the time—allegedly assaulting the victim, Scott Miller, multiple times.
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Brutal Attack Caught on Video
When officers arrived at the scene, they found Miller, who reported that Townsend had repeatedly struck him in the head with a closed fist, causing him to collapse. Witnesses say the attack continued even after Miller fell to the ground. It wasn’t until business patrons intervened that the assault stopped.
The violent encounter was captured on surveillance footage, which has been included in the police investigation.
Miller was hospitalized following the attack but succumbed to his injuries on January 13, 2025—nearly two months after the incident.
Suspect in Custody After Months on the Run
Townsend, originally from Greenville, Mississippi, had been on the run before surrendering to Gulfport authorities. Officials had previously warned the public that he was considered armed and dangerous.
Law enforcement continues to urge anyone with additional information about the case to come forward. The Gulfport Police Department can be reached at (228) 868-5959, or tips can be submitted anonymously through Mississippi Coast Crime Stoppers at (877) 787-5898.
