In the rural landscape of Carroll County, Mississippi, near the small community of Coila, a day of outdoor recreation turned into a tragedy. On December 29, 2023, Hayden Drake Bonta, a 17-year-old Caucasian male from Ocean Springs, lost his life in what authorities have described as a hunting accident. The incident occurred in the Blackhawk area, off of County Road 163, where Hayden sustained a single gunshot wound to the chest.
Emergency services, including the Carroll County Sheriff's Department, Medstat, and officers from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, responded to the scene. Despite their efforts, Hayden was pronounced dead at the scene by the Carroll County Coroner, Mark Stiles. Both the Sheriff's Department and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks have launched a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting. The preliminary findings from the investigation suggest that the shooting was accidental. Carroll County Sheriff Clint Walker expressed his condolences to the Bonta family, stating, 'The death of a teenager is never easy.'
Hayden was a vibrant young man who was deeply connected to nature and the outdoors. His obituary describes him as being full of life and sharing his father's love for fishing, hunting, and welding. A student at Ocean Springs High School, he was also a dedicated athlete, playing lacrosse and contributing to his team as a two-time state champion. Remembered for his generosity and sense of humor, his passing has left a profound void in the lives of his family, friends, and the wider community. Funeral services were held on January 3, 2024, at the First Baptist Church of Ocean Springs, and he was laid to rest in the Geiger Family Cemetery in Collins, Mississippi.
