A holiday celebration on Christmas Eve of 2022 turned tragic in Columbus, Mississippi, ending the life of 48-year-old Algene Hampton. That evening, Hampton was at a Christmas Eve party at a residence on Luxapilila Drive when an argument broke out between him and another man. The house was filled with people, including children, who were there to celebrate the holiday.
The verbal altercation escalated horrifically when firearms were produced, and gunfire erupted inside the home. In the ensuing chaos, Algene Hampton was fatally shot. The violence did not end with his death, as four other individuals at the party also sustained gunshot wounds. The scene was described as chaotic by law enforcement who responded to the shooting at approximately 10:40 p.m.
In the aftermath of the deadly shooting, Columbus Police identified 22-year-old Gregory Lamon Morris as the suspect in Hampton's death. Morris was one of the four others injured during the incident and was taken to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle for treatment. Upon his release from the hospital on the following Wednesday, Morris was arrested and charged with murder. He was subsequently booked into the Lowndes County Adult Detention Center and held without bond. Police indicated that other charges could be pending as the investigation into the shooting continued.
