Retired East St. Louis police captain killed after gun accidentally discharges

SWANSEA A retired East St. Louis police captain died unexpectedly Wednesday afternoon after a small handgun he was carrying inside of a small satchel discharged, striking him in the head.

Sherman Jumper, 72, who lived on Dalton Drive in Swansea, was in his garage and appeared to be headed into his home when he dropped one of the two bags he was carrying, causing a small handgun that was concealed inside the bag to discharge, striking him in the head, police said.

Swansea Deputy Chief of Police Craig Coughlin said police received a call Wednesday afternoon at 1:55 p.m. about a gunshot victim.

“A small firearm had been concealed in a hand bag. It appears he dropped the bag with the gun in it and and the gun discharged through the bag,” Coughlin said.

The case is being treated as an accidental shooting.

City Manager Alvin L. Parks Jr., who knew Jumper, said, “It’s a very tragic situation. Here’s a man who made most of his living having utilized a weapon as part of his job. To have something like this happen, is very tragic,” Parks said.

Jumper worked as a member of the East St. Louis Police Department for almost 29 years before retiring as a captain.

Former East St. Louis Police Chief Lenzie Stewart graduated in 1969 from East St. Louis Senior High School with the man whose nickname was “Jump.”

“He was a great guy and a good man. He was a great friend and a great co-worker. This is a tragic loss,” Stewart said. “My prayers go out to his family.”

This story was originally published December 17, 2015 at 5:09 PM with the headline "Retired East St. Louis police captain killed after gun accidentally discharges."