Jonte Sirico Payton was a 15-year-old, ninth-grade student at Gulfport High School. In the wake of his death, the Gulfport School District community expressed its deep sadness. The district released a statement saying, "Our hearts and deepest condolences are with Jonte's family, loved ones, and friends during this heartbreaking time." To support students and staff, school counselors were made available on the high school campus.
The district asked for privacy for Jonte's family and the school community as they mourned, remembering the young student as "Forever an Admiral."
In the pre-dawn hours of Saturday, October 24, 2026, Jonte’s life was cut short by gunfire. The incident occurred around 2 a.m. in the 200 block of Commerce Street in Gulfport, Mississippi. According to the Gulfport Police Department, officers responded to reports of a shooting and found that Jonte had been shot. Investigators later determined that the shooting happened during a physical altercation that broke out following a botched robbery attempt in front of a home.
The Gulfport Police Department immediately launched a homicide investigation. Detectives utilized surveillance footage from the area and were able to identify a suspect vehicle, a black Ford Fusion, believed to be connected to the crime. This lead proved crucial. Later that same day, officers located the car at the Cypress Lane Apartments in Gulfport.
At the apartment complex, police took a 17-year-old, Dennis Pritchett, and 18-year-old Elliona Yari-Cheri Goffney into custody. A third suspect, 18-year-old Elijah Markell Parham, later turned himself in at the Gulfport Police Department headquarters. Following interviews with the suspects, the department announced the arrests and charges.
Elijah Markell Parham and Dennis Pritchett were both charged with capital murder and armed robbery. A fourth suspect, an unnamed 16-year-old juvenile, was also arrested and faced the same charges of capital murder and armed robbery. All three were transported to the Harrison County Adult Detention Center and held without bond. Elliona Yari-Cheri Goffney was charged with accessory after the fact, and her bond was set by a judge at $200,000. All the teenage suspects were processed and booked into the Harrison County Adult Detention Center.
The swift arrests brought the case into the court system, but the full scope of the legal proceedings remains in progress. As of late October 2026, the case is pending litigation in Harrison County. No further details about court dates, pleas, or the progression of the case against the four charged teenagers have been made public.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, there were no public vigils or memorials announced for Jonte. His family has not released a public statement, and no fundraisers appear to have been organized in his name. The investigation remains open, and authorities have encouraged anyone with information about the incident to come forward. The Gulfport Police Department can be reached at 228-868-5959, and anonymous tips can be submitted to Mississippi Coast Crime Stoppers at 877-787-5898.
