3 charged in shooting death of Southern Mississippi defensive back Marcus ‘MJ’ Daniels Jr.

In Hattiesburg, Mississippi, three individuals were taken into custody on Friday and charged with capital murder in the tragic passing of Marcus “MJ” Daniels Jr., a talented defensive back from Southern Mississippi.

The 21-year-old Daniels was fatally shot on Tuesday at a Hattiesburg apartment complex.

Police Chief Hardy Sims identified the accused as Orlando May, 18, from Hattiesburg; Allen Marcus Gardner, 17, from Houston; and Samir Green, 16, also from Hattiesburg, with the juveniles being treated as adults in the legal proceedings.

In addition to capital murder charges, May faces accusations of attempted carjacking, felony eluding, and grand larceny auto charges. Gardner and Green are likewise charged with attempted armed carjacking offenses.

Efforts to reach out to legal representatives for May, Gardner, and Green were made by The Associated Press on Friday but were unsuccessful in obtaining comments.

Daniels had been an essential member of the Southern Miss football team as a starting cornerback in the previous season, contributing significantly with three interceptions and 29 tackles in 12 games. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound senior transitioned to safety for the upcoming 2024 season and was anticipated to play a key role once more, as cited by the Hattiesburg American.

On Wednesday, the university and its sports department released a statement mentioning that counseling services were offered to the football team members and individuals impacted by his tragic passing.

Having initially played his collegiate football at Mississippi before transferring to Southern Miss in 2023, Daniels had excelled at George County High School prior to his university career.