Henderson State University basketball player Jamarion Brown was fatally shot at a pool party in Camp County, Texas, in the early morning hours of May 24. The 23-year-old junior was struck in the head during the incident that left two other attendees with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.
Authorities responded to multiple reports of gunfire at the pool party and found Brown seriously injured. He was initially transported to a nearby hospital before being airlifted to a medical facility in Tyler, Texas, where he was pronounced dead. A helicopter had arrived at the scene, but Brown was too severely injured to be transported immediately by air.
The Camp County Sheriff’s Office arrested Onterrian Jamour Newton, 17, of Mount Pleasant, Texas, on May 28 in connection with the shooting. Newton has been charged with murder and is being held at the Camp County Jail without bond. Additional charges are pending related to the two other individuals injured in the shooting, one wounded in the leg and another in the hip.
Camp County Sheriff John Cortelyou indicated that the investigation is being conducted jointly with the Texas Rangers. Newton, also from Mount Pleasant, faces additional pending charges as the investigation continues.
Brown had completed his first season with the Henderson State Reddies men’s basketball team after transferring from Southwestern Christian College. The Division II player appeared in 30 games during the 2024-25 season, starting 19 of them, and averaged 6.5 points and 3.6 rebounds across 23.6 minutes per game.
During his lone season at Henderson State, Brown earned recognition as the Great American Conference’s Defensive Player of the Week in the next-to-last week of the regular season. He collected five steals in games against Southern Nazarene and Oklahoma Baptist, adding nine rebounds across both contests, including six against Oklahoma Baptist. He also recorded a season-high six assists in the Oklahoma Baptist game.
Henderson State head coach Jimmy Elgas expressed the team’s grief over the loss. “No words can express our sadness for Jamarion’s family, friends, and teammates,” Elgas noted. The coach emphasized that Brown’s impact extended beyond basketball throughout the university community and that his loss creates a tremendous void on campus.
The university released a statement mourning the death of the student-athlete known as “Jo” to teammates and friends. Henderson State officials described Brown’s impact as profound despite spending only one season in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. They characterized him as having a warm and welcoming personality that made him one of the most recognizable and respected students among peers, faculty, and staff.
University officials portrayed Brown as a fiery competitor and beloved teammate who carved out his role through toughness, work ethic, selflessness, and a winning attitude. They indicated that his smile lit up rooms and his dedication to friends showed through daily interactions. The athletic department noted that he epitomized the Reddie Spirit and brought honor to both himself and the university.
Henderson State Chancellor Dr. Trey Berry posted on social media about the devastating loss, describing Brown as a fine person, athlete, student, friend, and campus leader who brightened the world each day. The university has made counseling services available to students as needed and officials indicated that a memorial service is being planned.
Brown’s obituary described him as a shining light remembered for his warm spirit, deep commitment to family, and passion for basketball. It noted that basketball was one of his greatest passions, which he played with heart, discipline, and joy, while family served as the center of his life and source of strength. The obituary emphasized that his kindness, determination, and dedication were evident in everything he did both on and off the court.
The Mount Pleasant native was a 2020 graduate of Mount Pleasant High School before attending Southwestern Christian College for two years prior to transferring to Henderson State. He played in both games against Southern Arkansas during the season on December 13 and January 28, starting both contests.
