Four others were injured after gunfire erupted at a Haywood County park before prom.
BROWNSVILLE, TN — A teenage girl was killed and four other people were wounded Friday evening when gunfire broke out at Webb Banks Passive Park, where students had gathered for photos before Haywood High School’s senior prom, authorities said.
The shooting turned a milestone night into a homicide investigation in this West Tennessee city. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation joined Brownsville police at the request of 28th Judicial District Attorney General Frederick Agee. Officials had not announced an arrest or released suspect information by Sunday, May 10.
Brownsville police were called to the park in the 900 block of Key Corner Street on May 8 after reports of a shooting. Students and young people had gathered there before prom, which was scheduled later that night at a venue in Jackson. The event was canceled after the shooting. Brownsville Mayor William D. Rawls said the violence took away what should have been a joyful night for the Class of 2026. Rawls called the shooting “senseless and heartbreaking” and said the city was grieving with the victim’s family and the injured.
The TBI later said five people were shot in all. One victim was pronounced dead, and four others were injured. Authorities described the person killed as a female student but did not release her name while family notifications were still underway. Brownsville Police Chief Kelvin Evans said investigators were still working to determine what led to the shooting. Evans said early information suggested the shots may have come from one gunman. “This was not a shootout,” he said. The chief said officers also had to break up fights after the gunfire, but no additional injuries were reported from those disturbances.
Evans, who was among the first officials to reach the scene, described the park as chaotic and said the response stood out even after decades in policing. He said about 200 people were in the park when the shooting happened. Police officers, sheriff’s deputies, state troopers and drug task force officers assisted Brownsville police. At least two injured victims had wounds that were not considered life-threatening, while another juvenile boy suffered a more serious head wound but was expected to recover. Officials have not released a full list of victim ages, and the conditions of all surviving victims had not been fully detailed by Sunday.
The shooting happened during a busy stretch for law enforcement in Brownsville. Evans said officers had responded to several shots-fired calls in recent weeks, including one Thursday night in the same general area. He said investigators did not yet know whether Friday’s homicide was connected to any earlier calls. The park, also known locally as Webb Banks Park, is a public gathering spot in Brownsville. On Friday, it became the setting for prom photos, families, students in formal clothes and then a large emergency response before twilight.
Haywood County Sheriff Billy Garrett Jr. said his office was mourning the death of the student and supporting the investigation. Garrett called the shooting a “senseless tragic event” and said law enforcement would use available resources to seek justice for the victim’s family. Haywood County Schools Superintendent Amie Marsh told families that school leaders were working with law enforcement and community leaders to review safety steps and prepare support for students and staff returning to school. Officials did not announce any charges, court dates or named suspects by Sunday.
The shooting also left a wider school community facing the sudden loss of a student on a night meant for celebration. Rawls extended condolences to the family of the girl who died and to those who were wounded. Garrett offered sympathy to Haywood High School students and staff. Evans said officers from other agencies, including the Tennessee Highway Patrol, were expected to remain in the Brownsville area for several days as a precaution while investigators continued their work.
The investigation remained active Sunday, May 10. Authorities had not released the victim’s name, the suspected motive or whether the shooter had been identified. The next major update is expected from local law enforcement or the TBI as investigators review evidence and witness accounts.
Author note: Last updated May 10, 2026.