Funeral services announced for one of two Hancock High students killed in MS mass shooting
One of the two students killed in a mass shooting at an after-prom party in Bay St. Louis was looking forward to graduating from Hancock High School in May.
De’Arreis “DD” Smith, 18, was the senior who died of gunshot wounds at University Medical Center in New Orleans, according to friends and others who knew and loved him.
The second victim who died of gunshot wounds Sunday morning at the same hospital was identified as Hancock High student Haeleigh Stamper, 16.
The two are among six shot during the mass shooting at the Bay St. Louis house party in the 1000 block of Old Blue Meadows Road in the early-morning hours Sunday. The six shooting victims are between 15 and 18.
Kecia Sams considered De’Arreis an adopted member of her family and is devastated by his loss.
“De’Arreis Smith was an amazing soul, a loyal friend, brother and uncle,” Sams said. “He was loved by many and will be missed so very much by his family.”
A GoFundMe account has been set up to help with funeral expenses for Stamper and Smith.
Makayla Ward said the family got a call at 1 a.m. Sunday about Smith being shot. She said he died a short time later of one gunshot wound to the head and two gunshot wounds to the chest.
“De’Arreis was ... a loving happy go lucky boy,” she wrote. “He always wanted what was best for someone else even when it didn’t benefit him. He loved to make people laugh.
“That is what he always did. There was never a moment when you were around “DD” (that) you weren’t laughing. “
Ward called the loss of him “devastating to everyone.”
In another post on the GoFundMe account for Smith, the organizer wrote: “De’Arreis had many plans for his life and was just getting started preparing for life after high school. We could not have imagined losing De’Arreis in such a violent, senseless, horrific manner.”
Another GoFundMe account set up by someone else purportedly for Smith has been removed at the family’s request.
Haeleigh Stamper
A junior at Hancock High School, Stamper lived in Diamondhead. She is the daughter of Angela and Michael Corbett and has a brother, Bryce Corbett, “her number one favorite person,” her obituary says.
“She will always live on in their hearts,” her obituary says, where her parents expressed their heartfelt appreciation to Diamond Joseph, Chelsea Yarborough and Tysen Hawkins for their brave, unwavering actions caring for Haeleigh this past Saturday night.”
She was a painter, supported her friends and stood up against bullying, her family.
Funeral services for Stamper are at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 6, at Bayou Talla Fellowship, 18555 Mississippi 43 in Kiln. A viewing will be from 5-6 p.m., followed by a closed casket visitation from 6-7 p.m.
In the GoFundMe account for Stamper, the organizer, Lillie Smith, described the teen as a “sweet soul.”
“Her beautiful smile would light the whole room up,” Smith said. “Someone so sweet and adorable like her didn’t deserve this at all. If you could please donate, it would help her family tremendously.”
Other victims
In addition to Smith and Stamper, four other students were hit by gunfire, authorities said, with two additional gunshot victims each from Hancock High School and Bay High School.
After Bay St. Louis police responded to the home where the party was, they found the various gunshot victims and later arrested Cameron Everest Brand, 19, of Pass Christian.
Police arrested Brand at his home and charged him with four counts of aggravated assault and two counts of murder. He is being held without bond on the murder charges.
Prior to his arrest in the mass shooting, Brand had other run-ins with law enforcement, resulting in charges that include carrying a concealed weapon, possession of marijuana, and domestic violence by simple assault along with a charge for violating a protection order, according to records obtained by the Sun Herald.
He’d also been cited in the past for violating his bond conditions on earlier charges, but was a free man when he showed up at the party and allegedly carried out the shooting..
In the aftermath of the mass shooting, The Sun Herald spoke to an 18-year-old and her mother who had hosted the party.
The mother and daughter said they were outside keeping an eye on what was happening and didn’t hear any arguing before the shooter opened fire.
Both had no idea why Brand started shooting. In his Facebook profile, Brand has a picture of himself holding a gun while standing in front of a mirror in a bathroom.
A witness account
Casey Woods, an 18-year-old junior at Pass Christian High School, attended the party with a girlfriend.
Woods said he saw Brand talking to people and then walking away before he returned and started shooting.
“Me and my girl looked up and saw sparks coming from the gun,” Woods said.
Many ran into the woods after the shooting, but Woods said he waited on police to get there.
Counselors, teachers on duty for students
Sandra Reed, superintendent at Bay St. Louis-Waveland School District, told the Sun Herald on Sunday that she had never heard of any incident like the one that happened at the party in the five years that she had been there.
Reed said the school district is open Sunday for students with counselors and teachers on hand to provide any help they can.
“Our kids have an extraordinarily close relationship with our teachers and counselors,” Reed said.
Hancock High School addressed the shooting in a Facebook post: “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.
“Our hearts are with their families, friends, and the school staff during this incredibly difficult time. Please keep them, along with the others who were injured from Hancock and Bay High Schools, in your thoughts and prayers. To our students and staff, please know that there will be support services available at the high school tomorrow to help you through this.
“Let us come together as a community to show our support and love during this difficult time.”
Staff writer Anita Lee contributed to this report.
