Haywood County Schools identified the student who died as Saturah Hayes.
BROWNSVILLE, Tenn. — A Haywood County student was killed and four other people were injured Friday night when gunfire broke out during a pre-prom gathering at Webb Banks Passive Park in Brownsville, officials said.
The shooting turned a night built around prom photos and celebration into a homicide investigation led by Brownsville police with help from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Haywood County Schools canceled classes for Monday, May 11, saying students, families, teachers and staff needed time to grieve.
Officers responded Friday evening to the park in the 900 block of Key Corner Street after reports of a disturbance and gunfire. Investigators said the victims were found with gunshot wounds and taken for medical care. One victim later died. Haywood County Schools Superintendent Amie Marsh identified the student as Saturah Hayes and said the loss “leaves a hole in our hearts.”
Authorities first reported four people shot, then updated the total to five victims, including one person killed and four injured. Officials had not released the conditions of the surviving victims or said whether they were students. Police and TBI agents said they were still working to determine what led to the shooting, who fired the shots and whether any arrests had been made.
Brownsville Mayor William D. Rawls said the violence struck during what should have been a joyful night for the Class of 2026. Rawls called the shooting “senseless and heartbreaking” and said no family, student or community member should face that kind of pain during a time meant for celebration and hope. He also extended condolences to the family of the student who died and to those injured.
The investigation is being handled by Brownsville police with TBI special agents assisting at the request of 28th Judicial District Attorney General Frederick Agee. Officials said the case remains active. As of Sunday, May 10, authorities had not publicly named a suspect, announced charges or described a motive.
Webb Banks Passive Park became the center of a large police response after the shooting, with investigators gathering evidence at the scene. The park had been used as a backdrop for prom photos before the gunfire. Community leaders said the shooting shook families across Brownsville and Haywood County at the end of the school year.
Haywood County Schools said classes would remain canceled Monday as the district responds to the death of Hayes. The next public update is expected from law enforcement as investigators review evidence and seek more information about the shooting.
Author note: Last updated Sunday, May 10, 2026.