Three men are guilty in deadly New Year’s Eve shooting at packed party on the MS Coast

Three men from Gulfport pleaded guilty last week to various roles in a chaotic shootout that killed four men at a packed New Year’s Eve party in 2021.

Latavion Bland, 23; Vincent Armstrong, 21; and Mario Clark, 26, pleaded guilty. They are three of six defendants who have been convicted in connection to the shootings, which shattered the Gulfport neighborhood with gunfire.

The shootings killed Nathaniel Harris, 52; Sedrick McCord, 28; Corey Dubose, 23; and Aubrey Lewis, 22. Three others sustained non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.

The shootings occurred after a crowd of more than 100 people gathered at the party on Lewis Avenue. Just before midnight, Dec. 31, 2021, Gulfport Police received calls about shots fired near 1220 Lewis Ave., according to Assistant District Attorney Ian Baker.

Police found over 100 spent shell casings in the street and on the front lawn of the home. Several houses and cars were riddled with bullet holes.

In interviews with police, witnesses and victims “refused to provide the full truth of what happened on that deadly evening,” Baker said.

Still, he said, detectives pieced together the facts. Adults attended the party at the beginning. But in the hours before midnight, two groups of young people from separate neighborhoods showed up. More than 100 people attended the party.

Tensions between the two groups of young people escalated throughout the night, witnesses told police.

Minutes before midnight, Aubrey Lewis of Bay St. Louis began to fistfight in the middle of Lewis Avenue with Corey Dubose of Gulfport, the District Attorney’s office said. They fell on Sedrick McCord’s car. Witnesses told police McCord stepped out of the car and and fired a pistol once into the air. Lewis and Dubose pulled out firearms at the same time and shot and killed each other.

Preston then shot and killed McCord, the District Attorney’s Office said.

Several others, including Bland and Armstrong, then “shot recklessly into the crowd gathered around the fight.”

Harris was found dead in the street.

New Year’s Eve shooting defendants plead guilty

Bland and Armstrong each pleaded guilty to an amended charge of mayhem. Mayhem carries a maximum sentence of up to seven years in prison.

Armstrong also pleaded guilty to an indicted charge of shooting into a motor vehicle. Shooting into an occupied dwelling is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Clark pleaded guilty to an amended charge of hindering prosecution of a felon.

Armstrong also pleaded guilty to an unrelated charge of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. Clark pleaded guilty to an unrelated charge of felony fleeing.

Circuit Court Judge Christopher Schmidt has set sentencing in those cases for Dec. 9. All will remain in custody pending their sentencing.

Bland and Armstrong admitted to shooting into the crowd during their plea hearings, the District Attorney’s office said. Armstrong admitted to shooting a vehicle, and Clark admitted he lied to police to cover for Armstrong, his brother.

Isavian Preston pleaded guilty last December to manslaughter and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was sentenced to a 30 year sentence that will run consecutively with an 8 year sentence he is currently serving.

Khalid Williams, 29, pleaded guilty in April to two counts of unlawful possession of a weapon by a convicted felon in relation to the shooting. He was sentenced to 12 years to serve consecutive to an 8 year sentence he is currently serving.

Breanna Riley, 25, pleaded guilty in June to hindering prosecution of a felon. Her sentencing is in September.

Bobby Hands, 30, is the last indicted co-defendant. He is set for trial in December.

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