In the spring of 2019, a burst of violence shattered the evening quiet in a Gautier, Mississippi neighborhood, leaving one man dead and a community in search of answers. The life of Lashun Love, a 47-year-old male, was cut short on May 6, 2019, after a shooting on West Park Drive. First responders were called to the 1801 block of the street around 7 p.m. following reports of gunfire.
Upon their arrival, officers discovered Love suffering from a gunshot wound.
He was quickly transported by ambulance to Singing River Hospital in nearby Pascagoula. Despite the efforts of medical staff, Love succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. The suddenness of the event sent ripples of concern through the local area as details began to emerge about the circumstances of his death.
The investigation into the shooting moved swiftly. As police were responding to the scene, information was relayed about a suspect who had fled in a vehicle. An officer on patrol, Trace Williams, spotted a vehicle matching the description and, with assistance from Sergeant Cordell Holter, conducted a stop. The driver was identified as 29-year-old Kerry Thomas Young.
Following the traffic stop, Young was taken into custody without incident and brought to the Gautier Police Department for questioning. Investigators later announced that Kerry Thomas Young had been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of Lashun Love. Authorities noted that Young had been staying in Gautier but was not a permanent resident of the city. He was subsequently booked into custody to await his initial court appearance.
