The prom season in Haywood County, Tennessee, turned into a period of mourning after a mass shooting at Webb Banks Passive Park left one teenager dead and four others injured. The incident occurred on Friday, May 8, 2026, as a group of students gathered at the park to take photos before the Haywood High School prom. The gathering was interrupted by gunfire, which authorities believe may have originated from a drive-by shooting involving multiple parties.
The victim who lost her life was identified as Saturah Hayes, a student at Haywood High School. Four other individuals were transported to hospitals for treatment, with at least one reported in critical condition. In the immediate aftermath, school officials canceled the scheduled prom, and the Haywood County School District announced that all classes would be canceled on Monday, May 11, to provide students and staff time to grieve and access counseling services.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) is currently leading the inquiry alongside local police and the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office. While investigators are following several leads, no suspects have been taken into custody as of Sunday morning. Local leaders, including Mayor William D. Rawls, have called for community cooperation to identify those responsible for the “senseless act of violence” that has devastated the small community.