Fredrick Maurice Washington Jr., known affectionately to his family and friends as "Nu Nu," was a young man from Yazoo City, Mississippi, whose life was remembered for his contagious smile and loving ways. Born on March 19, 2006, to Adrienne Diana Burks and Fredrick Maurice Washington Sr., he was a beloved son, brother, grandson, and friend. Fredrick, 20, confessed his faith in Christ at an early age and was educated within the Yazoo City School System.
Those who knew him cherished the meaning and love he brought into their lives, and his memory lives on through them.
In the early hours of Sunday, October 4, 2026, a burst of gunfire shattered the quiet near the corner of East Fourth Street and Calhoun Alley in Yazoo City. During the incident, Fredrick Washington was fatally shot, and two other individuals were wounded. At 1:58 a.m., a private vehicle rushed Fredrick to the emergency room at Baptist Medical Center–Yazoo. Medical staff immediately began advanced cardiac life support, but his injuries were too severe. Just seven minutes after his arrival, at 2:05 a.m., Fredrick was pronounced dead. His body was later taken to the Office of the State Medical Examiner for an autopsy.
The Yazoo City Police Department launched an immediate investigation into the deadly shooting. At the scene, investigators recovered 12 rifle shell casings, evidence of the violence that had unfolded. With help from witnesses and the community, the department made swift progress. Within just 20 hours of the shooting, police had identified and arrested three suspects.
The individuals taken into custody were 16-year-old Danterrious Almo, 17-year-old Daniel Stewart, and their stepfather, Jamie Bassett. All three were charged with murder, three counts of aggravated assault, and shooting into an occupied vehicle. Both Almo and Stewart were set to be charged as adults. Police Chief Joseph Daughtry commented on the tragedy of a stepfather's alleged involvement, stating, "As a father myself, we are supposed to teach our children to do the right thing. Not encouraging them to do the wrong thing." Almo also faced charges related to a separate shooting that occurred a day earlier, and GPS monitoring data reportedly helped police locate him. A judge set Almo's combined bond at $1.65 million, Bassett's at $1.025 million, and Stewart's at $675,000.
While a specific motive for the shooting was not publicly released, Chief Daughtry lamented the senselessness of youth violence. "They are throwing their lives away. For what? Because somebody said something, somebody disrespected me on TikTok or somebody said something to me on Instagram. Is it really that serious?" he questioned.
In the midst of their profound grief, Fredrick's family prepared to lay him to rest. A visitation was held on Friday, October 16, 2026, at Shaffer-Collins Funeral Home in Yazoo City. His funeral service took place the following day at Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church in nearby Bentonia, followed by his burial. His obituary remembered a young man whose life, though far too short, remained a precious part of the hearts of those who loved him. He left to cherish his memory his parents, two brothers, a sister, his grandparents, and a very special friend, Janiyah Crowley, along with a host of other relatives and friends. As of October 2026, the case against the three accused individuals was proceeding through the justice system.
