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, 18, is one of the two Hancock High School students who died as a result of injuries he suffered a massa shooting at a house party in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, on April 30, 2023. Courtesy of Kecia Sams
“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 already been set up to help with funeral expenses for Stamper. In the posting, 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.”
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.
Haeleigh Stamper, 16, is one of two Hancock County High school students who died of gunshots wounds after a mass shooting at a house party in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, on April 30, 2023. She died at a New Orleans hospital. GoFundMe
After Bay St. Louis police responded to the home where the party was, they found the various gunshot victims and later arrested Cameron Everett 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 including 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.
Cameron Everett Brand is pictured with a gun in his profile picture on Facebook. He is jailed in Hancock County without bond on charges of murder and aggravated assault after being identified as a mass shooter at a house party in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.
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 students 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.”
Sun Herald staff writer Anita Lee contributed to this report.
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