By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
GULFPORT, Miss.—A 71-year-old Mississippi man faces two murder charges after authorities say he opened fire inside an AT&T store, killing an employee and a customer.
Gulfport police identified the suspect as Samuel Jerome Andrews of Harrison County. The shooting was reported at approximately 11:14 a.m. Sept. 7 at the AT&T store in Crossroads Mall.
Investigators said Andrews drove to the curb outside the business, exited his vehicle carrying a shotgun and fired through the store’s entrance before going inside. Authorities allege that he continued shooting after entering the building.
The victims were identified as Shane Basquill, 31, of Kiln, and Mary Anne Oberlies, 78, of Gulfport. Basquill was working at the store, while Oberlies was a customer. Both suffered fatal gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead at the scene.
Witnesses told local reporters that Basquill attempted to reach and secure the entrance after someone warned that an armed man was approaching. Three other people inside the store escaped injury and provided police with a description of the suspect and his vehicle.
Police arrested Andrews after he allegedly left the scene. He was booked into the Harrison County Adult Detention Center on two counts of first-degree murder and one count of shooting into a group. Published reports said he was being held without bond on the murder counts, while bond on the additional charge was set at $500,000.
Authorities have not publicly identified a motive. The investigation remains active. The charges are allegations, and Andrews is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.