In McComb, Mississippi, a young life was tragically cut short in the winter of 2020. Chaz Zayvion Ross, a 14-year-old male, was shot on December 29, 2020, and succumbed to his injuries a few days later on January 2, 2021, at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. Born on August 30, 2006, in McComb to Michael McDowell and Chaunci Ross, Chaz was a student at McComb High School.
The incident that led to the teenager's untimely death occurred on Pearl Street in McComb.
Initial reports described a playful interaction in the back of a pickup truck that took a fatal turn. An older teenager, Schedrick Ray, who was 19 at the time, was identified as the individual who shot Ross. The weapon was reported to be a 9mm Taurus handgun. The bullet struck Chaz between the eyes, inflicting a mortal wound.
Following the shooting, law enforcement authorities launched an investigation. Schedrick Ray was subsequently arrested in connection with the death of Chaz Ross. Initially facing other charges, Ray's charges were upgraded to second-degree murder following Ross's death. In April 2022, a grand jury indicted Schedrick Ray on the charge of second-degree murder, moving the case forward in the judicial system. The community mourned the loss of the young man, holding a vigil to honor his memory. His funeral services were held on January 16, 2021, at Craft Funeral Home in McComb.
