A beloved figure in her community, 78-year-old Mary Anne Oberlies, a woman known for her kindness and devotion to her faith, was tragically killed on September 7, 2026, in a senseless act of violence that also claimed the life of a young man. The incident unfolded on a Monday morning at an AT&T store in Gulfport, Mississippi, where Oberlies was a customer. A retired employee of the Gulfport School System, she was a familiar and friendly face to many, deeply involved in her church, St.
James Catholic Church, and cherished by her family and friends. Her sudden and violent death sent shockwaves through the Gulfport community, leaving many to mourn a woman described as a peacemaker with a gentle spirit.
The ordinary day turned tragic when a gunman, identified as 71-year-old Samuel Jerome Andrews of Harrison County, arrived at the Crossroads Mall AT&T store. According to witness accounts, Andrews pulled up to the curb, exited his vehicle with a gun, and fired through the door before even entering the establishment. Inside, chaos erupted as he continued to fire, fatally wounding both Mary Anne Oberlies and a 31-year-old store employee, Shane Basquill. Reports indicate that Basquill heroically attempted to lock the door to protect those inside as he saw Andrews approaching with the weapon. Three other individuals in the store at the time of the shooting were physically unharmed. Following the tragic events, Andrews fled the scene in his vehicle.
Law enforcement was quick to respond, and based on descriptions provided by witnesses, officers spotted Andrews' vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. He was taken into custody without incident, and a firearm was recovered. Samuel Jerome Andrews was subsequently charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Mary Anne Oberlies and Shane Basquill, as well as one count of shooting into a crowd. He was transported to the Harrison County Adult Detention Center, where he was held without bond for the murder charges and on a $500,000 bond for the additional charge. While the immediate aftermath saw a swift arrest and the laying of charges, the long-term legal resolution, including a trial, conviction, or sentencing for the accused, has not been detailed in the available online sources. The case remains a stark reminder of a peaceful day shattered by violence, leaving a community to grapple with the loss of two innocent lives.
