Crime
Victims killed in shooting at Starkville Quality Inn identified
Both victims were transported to OCH Regional Medical Center, where they succumbed to their injuries.
Starkville, MS — Two men were fatally shot Thursday morning in a violent altercation outside the Quality Inn, located at 403 MS-12.
The victims have been identified as Veshawn Williams, 25, of Columbus, and Robert Mayfield, 27, of Memphis.
According to the Starkville Police Department (SPD), the incident involved three individuals: a woman, her boyfriend, Williams, and her cousin, Mayfield.
Officials later confirmed that Williams was wanted by the Columbus Police Department on charges of kidnapping and aggravated assault. The woman’s identity has not been released.
Authorities received multiple 911 calls at 11:04 a.m. reporting a shooting at the Quality Inn.
Upon arrival, officers discovered two men suffering from gunshot wounds—one in the hotel parking lot and the other nearby at State Urgent Care.
Both victims were transported to OCH Regional Medical Center, where they succumbed to their injuries.
At a press conference, Sgt. Brandon Lovelady of the Starkville Police Department provided a timeline of events based on witness statements and security footage.
“At the time of the incident, all three individuals were inside a vehicle parked behind the Quality Inn,” Lovelady explained.
Williams, who was seated in the rear of the vehicle, exited and opened the front passenger door, where the woman was sitting.
Mayfield, who was driving, then got out and approached Williams on the passenger side, leading to a brief physical altercation between the three.
Mayfield then returned to the driver’s seat and attempted to drive away, leaving Williams outside the vehicle.
As the vehicle pulled away, Williams and Mayfield exchanged gunfire, with both sustaining fatal injuries.
Mayfield managed to drive to State Urgent Care, seeking medical assistance, while Williams remained behind the Quality Inn.
SPD confirmed that the woman involved was not injured during the shooting.
Authorities are working in coordination with the Columbus Police Department to establish a full timeline of events and determine how the individuals arrived in Starkville.
Sgt. Lovelady also addressed initial reports of an active shooter, clarifying that such rumors were false.
“Again, an argument escalated into gunfire,” Lovelady stated. “Initial reports suggested an active shooter situation, but those claims were later determined to be incorrect.”
The Starkville Police Department expressed gratitude for the cooperation of the community and the assistance of multiple agencies, including:
- State Urgent Care staff
- Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Office
- Starkville Fire Department
- EMS personnel & 911 dispatchers
Authorities have not disclosed whether any charges will be filed, and the investigation remains ongoing. Further updates will be provided as additional information becomes available.
Crime
Aleksandr Aleksand Shablykin Fatally Stabs Mother Zoya Shablykin and Three Others at Key Peninsula Home
Five people, including the suspect, are dead following a violent stabbing incident and subsequent deputy-involved shooting Tuesday morning in the 14000 block of 87th Avenue Court Northwest near Gig Harbor, according to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO).
Authorities identified the suspect as 32-year-old Aleksandr Aleksand Shablykin.
Investigators say the incident began as a reported protection order violation and escalated into a deadly stabbing attack in a residential cul-de-sac.
Dispatchers received the first 911 call at approximately 8:41 a.m. reporting an “order violation in progress.” According to the sheriff’s office, an adult male had gone to a residence despite a no-contact protection order involving a female occupant of the home.
Deputies later clarified that although a protection order had been granted, it had not yet been formally served to the suspect and therefore was not legally enforceable at the time.
Deputies were en route to serve the order when the situation rapidly escalated.
At approximately 9:30 a.m., additional emergency calls reported that the man was actively stabbing individuals outside the home. Witnesses described a chaotic scene, with at least one victim attacked in the middle of the street in front of multiple bystanders.
A deputy arrived on scene minutes later.
According to Officer Shelbie Boyd, spokesperson for the Pierce County Force Investigation Team (PCFIT), gunfire was reported at 9:33 a.m.
“We have the adult male suspect who was shot by the deputy,” Boyd said during a press briefing.
Shablykin was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities have not yet released specific details regarding the exchange of gunfire but confirmed that the investigation remains active.
Deputies located four adult victims at the scene.
Three were pronounced dead at the residence. A fourth victim was transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition but later succumbed to their injuries.
One of the victims was identified as 52-year-old Zoya Shablykin, the suspect’s mother.
Authorities stated that relationships between the suspect and the additional victims remain under investigation.
Witness accounts suggest that neighbors may have intervened in an attempt to stop the attack.
Court records linked to the residence show that in April 2025, Zoya Shablykin petitioned for a protection order against her adult son. The order was granted in May.
In her petition, she alleged ongoing threats, harassment, and erratic behavior, including prior physical aggression. The filing referenced concerns about his mental health and stated he had previously pushed and threatened her.
The protection order prohibited the son from possessing weapons and from coming within 1,000 feet of his mother, her home, vehicle, or workplace. The order also required him to comply with a treatment plan and prescribed medications.
Investigators confirmed that although the order had been approved by the court, it had not yet been formally served to the suspect at the time of the incident. Deputies were attempting to serve the documentation when the stabbing occurred.
Court records indicate Shablykin had multiple prior contacts with law enforcement dating back to 2020, primarily involving traffic-related offenses, including driving without a valid license and refusing to identify himself during traffic stops. Records reflect at least 14 separate cases. A 2023 trespassing charge was dismissed.
A family acquaintance told media outlets that other immediate family members were not present at the residence during the attack and were safe elsewhere at the time of the incident.
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office and the Pierce County Force Investigation Team are continuing to investigate both the stabbing deaths and the deputy-involved shooting. Authorities have not yet released the names of the additional victims pending notification of next of kin.
Officials described the event as a tragic escalation of a domestic situation that unfolded rapidly despite law enforcement response efforts.
Further updates are expected as the investigation proceeds.