The mass shooting at a prom after party in Bay St. Louis, which left two people dead and four more injured, is getting more attention.
Among the victims is De’arreis Smith, a native of Pearlington.
Jackie Gordon, Smith’s grandmother, claims that Smith, commonly known as “Dee,” left his home on Saturday night with pals to go to a Bay High prom afterparty.
Gordon stated, “I have no words for that. He was a good kid, and for this to happen, I have no words.”
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She received a call early Sunday morning from the hospital.
“About 1:30 in the morning, that’s when I got the call that he had gotten shot,” she added. “When they said he got shot, I asked how he got shot, what happened.”
According to police, Smith and five other people were shot at the party by 19-year-old Cameron Brand. Smith’s grandmother claims that when she came to the hospital, a teenager informed her he had witnessed the shooting of her grandson.
“The young man said the bullet passed him . . . he thought De’arreis had ducked the guy out of the way, but when he looked down, De’arreis was on the ground, he had gotten hit.”
Smith acquired a bullet to the back of his head. He was taken by ambulance to a hospital in New Orleans. His grandma says that they made a stop at Slidell to calm him down.
“He could not talk — he was unresponsive. His head was wrapped up, he had tubes all in him, but he couldn’t talk. He did not know I was there.”
According to Gordon, Smith was pronounced dead at around 7 a.m. His grandma says it’s a moment she will never forget.
“It was terrible. I did not want to leave him. That’s the hardest part, leaving him at the hospital.”
Smith had finished classes at Hancock High last year and was anticipating graduating this May. He loved music and was enrolling in the military.
Gordon says she’s telling De’arreis’ story because she wants to spread awareness on gun violence.
“I don’t want it to be swept under the rug. I don’t want to say I don’t want justice for De’arreis, but I want accountability, because justice would be him being here with me.”
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