Police Chief Toby Schwartz announced on Sunday morning that a Mississippi adolescent has been taken into custody on suspicion of murder and aggravated assault following a shooting at a house party in Bay St. Louis that left two teenagers dead and four others hospitalised. According to Schwartz, the party’s lone shooter was identified as 19-year-old Cameron Everett Brand. Several people were found with gunshot wounds when Bay police officers arrived at the home in the 100 block of Old Blue Meadow Road at 12:34 a.m., according to Schwartz. Others were driven to nearby hospitals by private vehicles.
The six victims range in age from 15 to 18. Students at Bay High School in Bay St. Louis account for two of the victims. Four of the students go to Hancock High School, which is close by. Four of the victims were flown by a Life Flight chopper to medical facilities in New Orleans or Slidell.
According to Schwartz and Hancock County Coroner Jeff Hair, two of the teenagers receiving care at University Medical Centre in New Orleans passed away early on Sunday. Their identities have not yet been made public, but they were 16 and 18. Brand was peacefully taken into custody at his Pass Christian home. Judge Stephen Maggio of the Municipal Court issued no bond for his detention, therefore he is currently being held in the Hancock County jail. “Our hearts are broken as we mourn the tragic loss of two Hancock High School students who were victims of the shooting in Bay St. Louis last night,” said Hancock High School in a Facebook statement.