Austin Powell, 23, a senior communication major at Mississippi State University from Germantown, Tennessee, died in the early hours of July 21, 2017, after sustaining a fatal gunshot wound to the head. Emergency responders found him at a Maxwell Street residence in the Cotton District around 2 a.m. Powell’s body was sent to Jackson for autopsy after the Oktibbeha County coroner, Michael Hunt, confirmed the cause of death and initially reported no immediate signs of foul play.

As Starkville Police and the coroner continued the inquiry, investigators found no evidence that anyone else was involved. The coroner’s report and subsequent investigative findings indicated the wound was likely accidental and possibly self-inflicted, and no suspects were named or arrests made before the case was closed. If anyone knew Austin or was in the Cotton District that night, does anyone have information that wasn’t shared with investigators?