In the coastal city of Long Beach, Mississippi, the life of 38-year-old Neville Stephen Conner was tragically cut short on Thursday, July 2, 2026. A long-time resident of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Conner was known as a skilled electrician who had been working at Ingalls Shipyard for the preceding two and a half years. Remembered for his love of basketball and his knack for making others laugh with his constant joking, he was a beloved figure to many.
The father of two children, Alexis Marie Conner and Chase Stephen Conner, his sudden death left a void in the lives of his family, including his parents, Dennis and Linda McKeown, and his brother, Jason Conner.
The circumstances of his death were violent and abrupt. In the early morning hours, at approximately 4:40 a.m., Long Beach police responded to a 911 call reporting a shooting at a residence in the 1800 block of Allen Road. Upon their arrival, emergency responders found Neville Conner deceased inside the house, the victim of multiple gunshot wounds. It was noted by authorities that this was not Conner's own residence. At the time of the shooting, there were several other people present in the home. The investigation into the homicide began immediately, with law enforcement agencies from Harrison, Jackson, and George counties, along with the Jackson County Emergency Services Unit and the Mississippi Department of Homeland Security, assisting the Long Beach Police Department.
The investigation quickly led to the identification of a suspect: 38-year-old Hallis Wayne Russ Jr. of Vancleave. Less than 24 hours after Conner's death, in the early hours of Friday, July 3, 2026, Russ was located and taken into custody at a residence near Pat Eubanks Road in George County. He was subsequently charged with one count of first-degree murder. Following his arrest, Russ was transported to the Harrison County Adult Detention Center, where he was held on a $1,000,000 bond set by Justice Court Judge Theressia Lyons, pending further court action. The case against Hallis Wayne Russ Jr. represents the pursuit of justice for the untimely death of Neville Conner, a man remembered for his humor and his dedication to his family. As the legal proceedings were set to unfold, the community awaited answers regarding the motive behind the tragic shooting and the ultimate resolution of the case.
