On the night of October 10, 2025, the celebratory atmosphere of a homecoming football game at Heidelberg High School was shattered by gunfire. In the chaos that ensued on the school's campus, 35-year-old Chris Newell, a Black / African American male from Laurel, Mississippi, was shot and killed. The violent outburst left two people dead that night, Newell and 28-year-old Mikeia McCray. A third victim, 25-year-old Cayus Stevens, later died from injuries sustained during the incident.
The scene was sprawling and chaotic, with one victim discovered on the school's baseball field and another near a tailgating area by the bleachers.
Investigators quickly began piecing together the events that led to the deadly shooting, with the violence reportedly stemming from a dispute that spilled into the crowded homecoming festivities. The investigation involved a coordinated response from local and state law enforcement agencies who worked tirelessly through the weekend and into the following week to identify those responsible. In the days following the shooting, authorities began making a series of arrests, bringing several teenagers and young adults into custody. The Jasper County Sheriff's Office and Heidelberg Police worked to untangle the tragic events that cut short three lives.
The swift investigation led to at least seven arrests. Among those taken into custody was 18-year-old Tylar Jarod Goodloe, who faced the most severe charges, including two counts of capital murder and possession of a weapon on educational property. Several others were charged in connection with the crime. Jadarius Quartez Page, 19, and Jabari Deshaun Collins, 19, were each charged with accessory after the fact. Damarin Starks, 19, was charged with accessory after the fact and tampering with evidence. Another suspect, 19-year-old Taylor Hartfield, was later arrested and charged with accessory before and after the fact, as well as tampering with physical evidence. Jaylen Tyreqne Gammage, 19, and an unnamed minor were also identified as suspects taken into custody as the investigation continued to unfold.
