On the night of February 17, 2019, gunfire was reported near Memorial Hospital in Gulfport, Mississippi. Officers responded to calls of shots fired around 9:34 p.m. and concentrated their search near 43rd Avenue and 11th Street. First responders found 31-year-old Demeatrius Blakley lying on the side of 43rd Avenue with a fatal gunshot wound. Harrison County Coroner Gary Hargrove identified Blakley and ruled the death a homicide.

Detectives opened a criminal investigation but initially reported they had not identified any suspects and no arrests were made. Investigators asked the community for help and promoted anonymous tips through Mississippi Coast Crimestoppers. If anyone has information that could help solve who shot Demeatrius Blakley, please come forward.