On a tragic Saturday night in Fayette, Mississippi, a community's bicentennial celebration was shattered by gunfire, leaving one young man dead and several others wounded. Rayshaude Hudson, a 22-year-old male, was fatally shot during the Fayette Fest on May 31, 2025. The festive atmosphere turned to chaos just before 11:00 p.m. as the event on Main Street was concluding.
In the wake of the violence, Hudson, the son of Jefferson County Judge Maurice Hudson, was identified as the deceased by the county coroner.
The mass shooting, which left at least five other people injured, prompted an immediate response from multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Fayette Police Department, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. Initially, authorities had no suspects and appealed to the public for any information that could lead to an arrest, with a reward being offered for tips. The community was left in shock and grief over the senseless act of violence that marred a historic celebration.
In the weeks that followed the deadly shooting, investigators made significant progress. The first arrest in the case came with the apprehension of 20-year-old Coutez D'Henry Damper, who was charged with murder. Subsequently, a pair of brothers, 22-year-old Michael Ross Jr. and 21-year-old Devon Ross, were taken into custody by U.S. Marshals in Vicksburg. They too were charged with murder in connection with the death of Rayshaude Hudson. The investigation into the Fayette Day Festival shooting remains ongoing, with law enforcement suggesting that more arrests are possible.
