In the early morning hours of November 28, 2020, what initially appeared to be a car accident on Westward Drive in Gulfport, Mississippi, quickly turned into a double homicide investigation. Inside the vehicle, authorities discovered the bodies of two men, 34-year-old Charles Earl Johnson and 22-year-old Rashaud Ashton Fairley, both residents of Gulfport.
The initial discovery was made by Gulfport Police who were responding to a call about a single-car crash at approximately 5:12 a.m..
Upon their arrival at the 1700 block of Westward Drive, near Milner Stadium and Memorial Hospital, they found that both Johnson and Fairley had sustained fatal gunshot wounds. The Harrison County Deputy Coroner pronounced both men dead at the scene. Further investigation revealed that both men had been shot in the head.
Charles Earl Johnson, a Black male, was 34 years old at the time of his death. The case, which is being handled by the Gulfport Police Department, remains an open and active investigation.
To date, authorities have not publicly identified any suspects or made any arrests in connection with the double homicide. The case is now considered a cold case and is listed on the Mississippi Coast Crime Stoppers website in an appeal for public assistance. Law enforcement officials have urged anyone with information regarding the shooting to come forward and contact the Gulfport Police Department or Mississippi Crime Stoppers. The investigation into the deaths of Charles Johnson and Rashaud Fairley continues, leaving their families and the community awaiting answers.
