The small community of Foxworth, Mississippi, is in mourning after the death of 22-year-old Zamarkus Kentrell Brister, who was fatally wounded in a shooting at a convenience store on Wednesday, Nov. 26. The incident happened shortly after 1 p.m. at Reagan’s Corner — a gas station and store along Highway 98 in Kokomo.
When deputies with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office arrived they found two people suffering from gunshot wounds. One of them, 19-year-old Verkese Dezmond Conerly of Tylertown, Mississippi, was stabilized at the scene and subsequently transported to a local hospital. The other, Brister, was also taken to a hospital — but later died from his injuries.
According to authorities, the shooting appears to have stemmed from “an altercation between the involved individuals” that escalated inside the store. As of now, investigators say the case remains active, with law enforcement continuing to piece together what led to such a tragic end.
Arrests have already been made. Conerly is now in custody, charged with murder and three counts of aggravated assault. A second suspect — identified as 17-year-old Coreyon Lamark Brister of Hattiesburg — is also being held; he is facing manslaughter and two counts of aggravated assault. Investigators have not released any motive or other details pending further review.
For people who knew Zamarkus, his death is so much more than a crime — it’s a gutting loss. To friends, family and neighbors, he was a young man full of life, someone whose energy could light up any room. Whether he was joking around, sharing stories, or just being present, he brought comfort and joy. His loss is being felt deeply, in every conversation between loved ones, every memory shared, every silent moment when people realize he won’t be there again.
Across Foxworth, Kokomo and the surrounding Marion County communities, support for the Brister family is pouring in. Local churches, neighbors, and community members are offering prayers, meals, and words of solidarity — small acts of kindness to help a family facing unimaginable grief. People are rallying around memories, not rumors; hopes, not sorrow.
As the investigation continues, the community is choosing to remember who Zamarkus was — not simply how he died. His legacy lives on in stories, in laughter shared among friends, in the caring he showed others, and in the empty space his absence has left. Even in mourning, there is a quiet resolve to keep his memory alive, to support those closest to him, and to honor the life of a young man taken far too soon.
