In the quiet early morning hours of June 6, 2021, a domestic disturbance call led Biloxi police to a home on South Shore Drive, where a scene of immense tragedy was discovered. Inside, 34-year-old Keli Gabrielle Mornay was found deceased, the victim of a fatal gunshot wound. Alongside her lay her seven-month-old infant son, Brixx Nola Mornay Johnson, who had also been critically shot, and her boyfriend, Byrain Johnson. The infant was rushed to the hospital but tragically succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation into the devastating event quickly revealed a grim picture of domestic violence. Authorities determined that Byrain Johnson had forcibly entered Keli's home and opened fire on her and their infant son before turning the gun on himself in a murder-suicide. Keli's two older sons, Alliyano and Diovanni, were present in the house at the time of the incident but managed to escape the horrific scene. One of the children tragically witnessed the events unfold.
The Biloxi Police Department and the Harrison County Coroner's Office conducted a thorough investigation, and autopsies confirmed the cause of death for all three individuals. With the perpetrator deceased at the scene, the investigation concluded that Byrain Johnson was the sole person responsible for the deaths of Keli and Brixx. As a result, no further arrests were made in connection with the case.
The community was left to mourn the senseless loss of a mother and her young child. In the wake of this tragedy, Keli's mother, Renata Flot-Patterson, has become a vocal advocate for domestic violence awareness, sharing her family's heartbreaking story in the hopes of preventing similar tragedies. Keli was remembered as a loving mother and a career-driven woman who had pursued her passion for event planning in the Gulfport/Biloxi area.
