In the late hours of a Saturday night in Laurel, Mississippi, the life of Damarius A. Cooley was tragically cut short. On February 24, 2024, the 31-year-old Black/African American man was at the Premier Sports Bar and Grill. Just before midnight, gunshots shattered the atmosphere of the establishment. Cooley was shot in the restroom area of the bar. Another individual was also wounded in the incident.
Emergency services transported Cooley to a hospital in Hattiesburg for medical attention. Despite their efforts, he was pronounced deceased. His sister had been with him at the bar only 20 minutes before the fatal shooting occurred. Known affectionately as 'D Cool' to his friends and family, Damarius was born in Laurel on November 18, 1992, to Sabrina Cooley and Bernard Moffett. He was a graduate of Laurel High School and was known for his love of sports.
In the wake of the shooting, the Laurel Police Department acted swiftly. Their investigation led to the identification of a suspect, 24-year-old Clifton McGruder. McGruder was subsequently arrested and has been charged with murder in connection with the death of Damarius Cooley. The community was left to mourn the loss of a son, brother, and friend, whose life was taken in a sudden act of violence.
