In the small town of Weir, Mississippi, the new year began with a tragic loss that sent ripples through the close-knit community. On January 1, 2026, 19-year-old Caden Yarbrough was killed. His life was cut short following a shooting that occurred at an outdoor New Year's Eve gathering on Thomas Circle Street. The incident happened just before midnight, turning a night of celebration into one of mourning.
According to Weir Police Chief Dillion Cates, an argument preceded the fatal
shooting. Yarbrough was transported to Choctaw Regional Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries. The untimely death of the 2025 Choctaw County High School graduate has been described as a senseless act of violence that has deeply affected those who knew him. Friends and community members remembered Yarbrough as a loving and caring individual with a passion for horses.
In the wake of the shooting, an arrest was made. Kentavious Merritt, 24, of Attala County, was taken into custody and has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with Yarbrough's death. Further investigation led to an additional charge against Merritt for the possession and/or use of a machine gun conversion device, sometimes referred to as a "switch," which is believed to have been used to enhance the weapon that killed Yarbrough.
Merritt is being held in the Choctaw County Jail on a $1 million bond, with $500,000 set for each charge. The community has come together to mourn the loss of Caden Yarbrough and to take a stand against the gun violence that took his life, with many calling for action and mentorship programs for the area's youth.
