The Latest: Mayor: Chief suspended just prior to shooting

BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss. – The Latest on shooting death of Mississippi police chief (all times local):

5:55 p.m.

The mayor of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, says the city’s police chief had just been suspended when he shot himself to death in the police department’s parking lot.

Mayor Les Fillingame told The Associated Press that Chief Michael DeNardo was suspended pending an investigation by the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office. He would give no details but said he believed DeNardo would have been cleared of any wrongdoing.

Hancock Chief Deputy Don Bass confirmed that DeNardo shot himself and died Thursday afternoon. An investigation was underway.

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5:30 p.m.

Authorities say a Mississippi police chief has died after shooting himself in the chest outside the police department.

Hancock County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Don Bass says Bay St. Louis Police Chief Mike DeNardo shot himself to death in the parking lot Thursday afternoon.

Bass says the shooting appeared to be intentional.

Bass says city administrators told the sheriff’s office that DeNardo had turned in some of his equipment earlier. He said he believes the police chief was still in uniform when the shooting happened.

The chief deputy says investigators know of no witnesses to the shooting, and he is unsure who found the body and reported the shooting.

Hancock County Sheriff Ricky Adam told WWL-TV that DeNardo was involved in an ongoing “personnel” issue.