In the quiet community of Escatawpa, Mississippi, the life of 17-year-old Keontae Dewayne Colbert was tragically cut short on the night of February 3, 2025. A senior at Gautier High School, Keontae was a young man with aspirations of attending college and becoming a machinist at Ingalls Shipbuilding. His future, however, was stolen from him by a fatal gunshot wound.
His body was discovered by Jackson County sheriff's deputies on Wildwood Road.
The investigation into Keontae's death quickly led to the arrest of two other teenagers. Michael Todd Ward Jr., also 17, of Moss Point, was taken into custody and charged with murder. An 18-year-old from Gautier, Kenta Derell McCann, was also arrested and charged with accessory after the fact to murder. Both teenagers were charged as adults and booked into the Jackson County jail to await their initial court appearances. While a motive for the killing has not been officially released by law enforcement, Keontae's mother, Martina Pratt, believes her son was the victim of a 'setup.' She stated that he had left home with a gun he had recently purchased, under the impression that he was going to trade or sell it to one of the individuals now accused in his death.
The news of Keontae's untimely death sent ripples of grief through his family and the wider community. Described as having a big heart, he was cherished by his three older siblings and his girlfriend. He found joy in playing video games and spending time with his loved ones, including his niece. The Pascagoula-Gautier School District issued a statement expressing their heartbreak over the loss of the high school senior and offered support to both students and staff. A viewing was scheduled for February 14, 2025, allowing friends and family to pay their final respects to a young life ended far too soon.
