Aspiring nurse NyKel Poole fatally shot in Gulfport dispute

An aspiring nurse was fatally shot and two others were seriously injured outside a residential property in Gulfport, Mississippi on June 29, 2026. NyKel Poole, 19, died at the scene of the incident, which occurred exactly ten years after her older brother was also murdered.

PEOPLE reported that Gulfport Police Department officers responded to reports of a shooting at approximately 8:45 pm. Upon arrival, emergency services discovered one deceased individual and two further victims suffering from gunshot wounds. The two surviving victims, one of whom is Poole's twin brother, were transported to a local hospital where they remain in a critical condition.

The Harrison County Coroner, Brian Switzer, later identified the deceased victim as Poole. Her mother revealed on an online fundraising page that the teenager had recently completed the first phase of her certified nursing assistant programme to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse. The bereavement marks the second tragedy for the family, following the fatal shooting of Poole's 16-year-old brother, Ny’Gel Poole, in Gulfport in 2016.

Police officers arrested John Gaddis III, 34, on June 30, 2026, in connection with the incident. Investigators believe the shooting arose from an ongoing dispute over narcotics between Gaddis and one of the victims. Gaddis now faces charges of first-degree murder and aggravated assault.

Gaddis is currently being held at the Harrison County Adult Detention Centre on a 2,000,000-dollar bond. It remains unclear whether he has entered a legal plea or secured legal representation to speak on his behalf. Poole was remembered by her family as a devoted and caring young woman, whilst community members have rallied to support the family with funeral costs.