A suspect in a Long Beach homicide was injured hours later during an exchange of gunfire with sheriff’s deputies in Florida, according to law enforcement.
The Long Beach Police Department responded to a home on Lantana Boulevard at approximately 10:15 a.m. Friday following a reported shooting. Upon arrival, officers found two people dead inside the residence.
One of the individuals, identified as 84-year-old Doris Crimmins, is believed to have died of natural causes. An autopsy will determine her official cause of death. The other individual, 63-year-old Kimberly Hernandez, had suffered an apparent gunshot wound.
According to Harrison County Coroner Brian Switzer, Crimmins owned the home and was receiving hospice care for cardiac issues. Hernandez lived at the residence with her mother. A hospice care worker discovered both bodies and called police.
During the investigation, detectives identified the suspect as 64-year-old Richard Timothy Ward and alerted law enforcement agencies in other jurisdictions about a vehicle he was believed to be driving. Ward and the vehicle were later located at a motel in Pensacola, Florida.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived at the motel at approximately 2:15 p.m. Friday. According to authorities, Ward pulled out a gun and ignored commands to drop the weapon before firing at deputies. Officers returned fire.
No deputies were injured. Ward was taken to a local hospital for treatment. His condition is unknown.
Authorities confirmed that Ward is Crimmins’ son and Hernandez’s brother.
The National Sex Offender Registry also lists Ward following a November 2021 conviction in Oregon for attempted rape.