Authorities in southern Mississippi have arrested a 71-year-old man following a deadly shooting at a retail telecommunications store that claimed the lives of a worker and a patron. The incident, which unfolded during regular business hours inside a bustling shopping center, prompted a significant law enforcement response and has left the local community searching for answers.
The suspect, identified as Samuel Jerome Andrews of Harrison County, was taken into custody shortly after the violent encounter. Online jail records confirm that Andrews is facing severe criminal charges, including two counts of first-degree murder along with one count of discharging a firearm into a group of people.
Officials from the Harrison County Coroner’s Office identified the two deceased individuals as 31-year-old Shane Basquill, a resident of Kiln, Mississippi, and 78-year-old Mary Anne Oberlies of Gulfport. Coroner Brian Switzer verified the identities of both victims following the tragedy, which took place in the coastal city.
The shooting occurred on the morning of Monday, Sept. 7, at approximately 11:14 a.m. inside the AT&T branch situated within the Crossroads Mall commercial complex. At the time the violence erupted, Basquill was carrying out his duties as a store employee, while Oberlies was present inside the facility as a retail customer.
According to investigative findings reported by local media outlets, the suspect initiated the attack after driving into the shopping plaza's parking area. Andrews allegedly parked his vehicle, stepped outside, and discharged an initial bullet through the exterior of the retail establishment before walking directly through the entrance to continue firing inside.
Witnesses present near the scene described a terrifying sequence of events as the armed man confronted people inside the building. One witness, Carl Musgrove, reported that he entered the establishment shortly after the gunfire began, placing him in direct proximity to the armed assailant.
Musgrove recalled being confronted by the gunman, who issued a chilling warning while displaying an unsettlingly calm demeanor. According to Musgrove, the shooter explicitly instructed him to leave the premises immediately, stating that he was in the process of killing everyone present in the building. Musgrove was able to retreat from the scene without sustaining physical harm.
Other individuals present during the ordeal recounted the brave actions taken by store staff in an attempt to protect patrons from the gunfire. In a separate interview, eyewitness Courtney Ladner detailed the final moments of Basquill's life, highlighting the young employee's immediate instincts to safeguard those around him.
Ladner explained that as the crisis began to unfold, someone called out Basquill’s name to alert him to the approaching danger. Recognizing the immediate threat, the 31-year-old worker quickly rushed toward the entrance in an effort to lock the front doors and block the shooter's access to the interior.
However, before Basquill could successfully secure the entryway and shield the individuals trapped inside, the armed suspect began discharging his weapon, striking the worker. Witnesses commended the worker's quick thinking and selflessness in attempting to neutralize the danger for customers and colleagues.
Following the discharge of weapons inside the Crossroads Mall location, the suspect reportedly fled the scene in an attempt to evade capture. Law enforcement units quickly mobilized, cordoning off broad sections of the commercial strip mall's parking lot with yellow crime scene tape as investigators documented physical evidence.
Officers successfully located and apprehended Andrews a short time later. The 71-year-old suspect was subsequently transported to the local detention facility, where he remains held in custody without bond pending further judicial proceedings.
Investigators have not yet determined or publicly released an official motive behind the targeted retail attack. Local reporting indicates that Andrews had no documented prior criminal history leading up to the fatal incident on Monday morning.
It remains unclear whether Andrews has retained legal counsel or had an attorney appointed to represent him against the capital charges. Inquiries directed to the Gulfport Police Department regarding additional details about the investigation have not yielded an immediate public response.
As the criminal investigation continues, law enforcement officials are actively seeking additional information from members of the public who may have witnessed the event. The Gulfport Police Department has requested that anyone with relevant knowledge contact investigators directly at 228-868-5959, or submit anonymous tips through Mississippi Coast Crime Stoppers at 877-787-5898.
(0)