Four others were wounded in the shooting at Webb Banks Passive Park.
BROWNSVILLE, Tenn. — A Haywood County prom night gathering ended in gunfire Friday at Webb Banks Passive Park, killing student Saturah Hayes and injuring four other people, according to school and law enforcement officials.
The shooting has left Brownsville police and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation searching for answers while Haywood County Schools prepares for a day without classes. District leaders said schools would be closed Monday, May 11, so students, families and employees could grieve after the death of Hayes.
The gunfire was reported Friday evening at the park in the 900 block of Key Corner Street, where students had gathered before prom. Brownsville officers arrived after a disturbance and found victims with gunshot wounds. The wounded were taken to a hospital, where one person was pronounced dead. Officials later said five people had been shot in all.
Superintendent Amie Marsh said the district was mourning Hayes and supporting the families affected. “The senseless tragedy that occurred last night leaves a hole in our hearts,” Marsh said in a statement. She said the shooting would forever change the lives of families touched by the violence and offered sympathy to Hayes’ family.
Brownsville Mayor William D. Rawls said the shooting took away a night that should have belonged to the Class of 2026. Rawls said the city was grieving with the families of the student who died and those who were injured. He said the violence was especially painful because it happened during a school milestone tied to celebration, photos and hope.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said special agents joined the case at the request of District Attorney General Frederick Agee. Police have not said what caused the disturbance before the shooting. Officials also had not released the ages of the four surviving victims, their conditions or any suspect information as of Sunday.
The shooting drew a large police presence to Webb Banks Passive Park and changed the tone of prom weekend across Haywood County. What began as a gathering for pictures became a crime scene, with investigators working through the night and into the weekend to piece together what happened.
As of Sunday, May 10, the case remained active and ongoing. Haywood County Schools’ next major step is the Monday closure, while investigators continue to collect evidence and seek information tied to the shooting.
Author note: Last updated Sunday, May 10, 2026.