On the night of October 10, 2025, a high school homecoming football game in Heidelberg, Mississippi, turned into a scene of tragedy. Mikeia 'Keia' McCray, a 28-year-old Black woman from Laurel, Mississippi, was fatally shot on the campus of Heidelberg High School following the game against Mize High School. McCray, a mother of four and a graduate of Heidelberg High School, was pregnant at the time of her death.
The gunfire erupted in a chaotic scene that left another individual, 35-year-old Chris Newell, also deceased at the scene. A third victim, 25-year-old Cayus Stevens, succumbed to non-gunshot-related injuries days later.
The violence prompted a swift and extensive investigation involving local and state law enforcement agencies. In the days that followed the shooting, authorities began making arrests. Investigators took several suspects into custody, primarily teenagers from Bay Springs. Among them, 18-year-old Tylar Jarod Goodloe faced the most severe charges, including two counts of capital murder and possession of a weapon on educational grounds.
Other arrests followed, widening the net of individuals believed to be connected to the incident. Damarin Starks, 19, was charged with accessory after the fact and tampering with evidence. Jadarius Quartez Page and Jabari Deshaun Collins, both 19, were each charged with accessory after the fact. As the investigation continued, more suspects were apprehended, with reports indicating at least seven arrests in total. Another individual, 19-year-old Taylor Hartfield, was charged with being an accessory before and after the fact and with tampering with physical evidence. The community was left to mourn the loss of three lives, including McCray, who was remembered for her vibrant spirit and dedication to her children.
