On a Tuesday afternoon in Gulfport, Mississippi, the life of 18-year-old Teraye Preston was tragically cut short. On April 20, 2021, Preston was shot and killed in a violent incident that also claimed the life of 19-year-old Juan Reginald Harvey, Jr. The shooting occurred in the vicinity of Loposser Avenue and Layton Drive. When police arrived at the scene around 5:23 p.m., they discovered Harvey deceased inside a vehicle from an apparent gunshot wound.
Preston was found in the roadway, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was rushed to a local hospital, but succumbed to his injuries.
In the days following the shooting, family and friends mourned the loss of the young man, remembering him as a kind-spirited and loving person who enjoyed drawing and playing video games. He was the fifth of nineteen siblings and was described by his grandmother as a 'good-hearted person.' Family members recalled his talent for drawing, a passion they had encouraged by gifting him a drawing pad. Over 100 loved ones gathered to release black and blue balloons, his favorite colors, in his memory at the Courthouse Road Pier.
The Gulfport Police Department launched an investigation into the double homicide, but in the immediate aftermath, they described the case as 'still brand new' and did not have any updates to provide. The family expressed their shock and confusion, stating they had no idea what could have led to the shooting.
Despite the initial investigation, there have been no publicly reported arrests or identification of suspects in the years following the deaths of Teraye Preston and Juan Reginald Harvey, Jr. The case, like many others in the city, has left a family grieving and a community searching for answers. The motive behind the shooting and the circumstances that led to the violent deaths of two teenagers remain unresolved.
