This post has been updated.
Paul McLeod, the owner of an Elvis Presley attraction in Holly Springs, Miss., was found dead on the front porch of his home-turned-museum on Thursday morning, less than two days after he shot and killed a man during an altercation just inside his home Tuesday evening, according to the Daily Journal.
McLeod’s cause of death wasn’t immediately apparent to the police. Marshall County Coroner Richard Anderson told the Daily Journal that there were no signs of trauma, but that he had yet to complete an autopsy.
“There was no blood or anything. It appears to be natural, but it is a pending case until the autopsy is done,” he said.
On Tuesday evening, McLeod allegedly got into an altercation with a man trying to burglarize his home.
According to the police account in an initial local report, Dwight David Taylor Jr. knocked on McLeod’s door asking for money. McLeod turned Taylor away and tried to shut the door. Taylor then forced his way in, when McLeod shot him in the chest.
Police released McLeod after questioning and have not filed any charges.
Phillip K. Knecht, McLeod’s attorney, issued a statement to clarify that the museum owner was defending himself during an altercation:
At approximately 11:00 P.M., Mr. McLeod heard loud banging at his front door. Upon opening the door, an adult male broke the glass of Mr. McLeod’s front door, forced his way through the door and demanded Mr. McLeod give him money. The perpetrator refused to leave the home. An altercation occurred inside the home, resulting in the perpetrator’s death.
Knecht said that McLeod was “fully cooperating with the local law enforcement in this matter.”
According to a Thursday statement from Knecht, McLeod had been in poor health for a while, making it likely that the 70-year-old died from natural causes.
“We can’t be sure of anything right now, but nothing points to suicide or foul play. We await an official autopsy, but his ill health, combined with the stress form Monday’s (sic) tragedy, lead (sic) me to believe it was a very unfortunate natural occurrence,” Knecht said in the statement.
Knecht said that McLeod “was known to stay up 24 hours a day, fueled by caffeine from an unending supply of Coca-Cola, to welcome visitors form all over the world to his makeshift museum.”
TPM has reached out to the Holly Springs police department for comment.
If your Gunrection lasts more than four hours you’re supposed to contact your local NRA representative.
Sounds like an X-File to me. Get Mulder and Scully on it, stat.
Generally, when a homeowner closes his door in my face, I let him. If I try to force my way in, I might get shot.
That’s based on the story of the one guy who survived the encounter, right?
“Police released McLeod after questioning and have not filed any charges.” It’s safe to say that they’re not gonna be charging him after this.