Relatives of 17-year-old Coriuan Bean say an arrest brings some relief, but the loss still hangs over a prom weekend that was supposed to be joyful.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The family of 17-year-old Coriuan Bean is grieving the loss of the Millington Central High School junior after authorities charged a 16-year-old with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting at Shelby Farms Park.
The arrest answered one urgent question in a case that quickly shook students, parents and school officials across the Memphis area. But for Bean’s relatives, the charge came alongside fresh reminders of what the family had expected this weekend to hold. Instead of getting ready for prom photos and last-minute plans, relatives said they were remembering a teenager whose life ended after gunfire broke out at a large student gathering Tuesday. Funeral arrangements, the family said, have now been made for next weekend.
According to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded just after noon Tuesday to reports of gunfire at Shelby Farms Park. Authorities said an unsanctioned senior skip-day gathering was taking place near the playground area and that nearly 200 students from several schools were at the park. Witnesses said the crowd had gathered for a large water-gun fight before the sound of real gunshots sent teenagers running. Bean was struck and taken to Regional One Health, where authorities said he was pronounced dead on arrival. In the days immediately after the shooting, investigators publicly sought tips and cellphone video from anyone who had been at the park, suggesting the fast-moving and crowded scene left detectives piecing together events from multiple viewpoints.
On Friday, the sheriff’s office announced that a 16-year-old had been arrested and formally booked. The juvenile suspect was charged with first-degree murder, criminal attempted first-degree murder, reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon, employing a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, and three counts of aggravated assault. Because the suspect is a minor, authorities have not publicly identified him. Investigators have also not publicly described a motive, explained whether the shooting followed an argument, or said whether Bean was specifically targeted. Those gaps remain central to the case. Chief Deputy Anthony Buckner said the sheriff’s office was deeply saddened by Bean’s death and praised deputies, detectives and witnesses who helped identify the suspect.
As the legal case began to take shape, Bean’s relatives spoke less about charges and more about the everyday plans that now will not happen. Maria Wright, Bean’s cousin, said the family felt relief because an arrest had been made and because they had been praying for progress in the case. She said Saturday night had been meant for something very different: Bean was supposed to be his cousin’s prom date. Wright said he had reminded his mother just a day before his death that they still needed to finish getting things for the dance. In those comments, the story of a homicide investigation sat next to the story of an ordinary teenager thinking about a milestone night.
Another cousin, Katrina Guffin, described the fear the shooting left behind for relatives raising children in the area. She said the violence made her worry even more about sending children to school. Those remarks reflected a broader reaction that moved beyond Bean’s family. Millington schools called the shooting an incredibly difficult situation and said the district’s focus was supporting students and staff. Officials said counselors would be available throughout the week and as long as needed. Millington city leaders added that a firearm had no place anywhere near young people, a statement that underscored how public officials framed the shooting not only as a criminal case but as a community failure around youth safety.
The Shelby Farms shooting also came amid wider concern over violence at informal student gatherings in Memphis parks. Local officials said it was the third such incident tied to an unsanctioned senior skip-day event this school year. Earlier reporting noted a shooting at Tom Lee Park in March and gun-related arrests at Overton Park days before Bean was killed. Those earlier events involved different people and circumstances, but they added context for why school administrators and law enforcement moved quickly to warn families after Tuesday’s shooting. For investigators, the immediate task now is to build a prosecutable timeline from witness statements, video evidence and forensic work. For Bean’s family, the next steps are more personal and more painful: a funeral, a prom night missed, and the long work of mourning.
As of Sunday, the suspect had been charged, Bean’s family was preparing for services next weekend, and officials had not released further public details about the shooting’s cause. The next major development is expected to come in court or through another update from the sheriff’s office.
Author note: Last updated April 19, 2026.