Victims identified at the Crossroads Mall store
Two people were killed in a shooting on the morning of September 7, 2026, at an AT&T store inside Crossroads Mall in Gulfport, Mississippi. Harrison County Coroner Brian Switzer identified the deceased as 31-year-old Shane Basquill of Kiln, an employee at the store, and 78-year-old Mary Anne Oberlies of Gulfport, a customer. Both victims died at the scene, according to the Gulfport Police Department, which said three other people were inside the store at the time of the shooting.
Timeline and scene described by police
The Gulfport Police Department said the shooting occurred around 11:14 a.m. A witness told reporters that a suspect pulled up to the curb outside the store, exited his vehicle carrying a shotgun, and headed toward the door. The witness said Basquill attempted to lock the door before the suspect fired, and police said the suspect entered the store and continued shooting. A reporter on scene later observed what appeared to be a bullet hole in the front glass and two shell casings on the ground outside.
Suspect identified and taken into custody
Police identified the suspect as 71-year-old Samuel Jerome Andrews of Harrison County. After the shooting, callers to 911 gave a description of Andrews' vehicle, and responding officers spotted it fleeing the area before conducting a traffic stop. Andrews was taken into custody without incident and a gun was recovered, according to the department. He was booked into the Harrison County Adult Detention Center on two counts of first-degree murder with no bond set, plus a $500,000 bond on one count of shooting into a crowd.
Motive and investigation remain open
The Gulfport Police Department said it had not provided information about a possible motive and that the investigation was continuing. The department has not indicated additional charges or releases beyond the initial booking.
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