Southern Miss soccer player killed in shooting

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WHLT) – A Southern Miss football player was killed in a shooting in Hattiesburg.

Forrest County Coroner Lisa Klem said Marcus “MJ” Daniels, Jr., 21, of Lucedale, was shot and killed at the Ivy Row Apartments on Tuesday, June 11.

Klem said McDaniels' body was sent to the medical examiner for an autopsy.

Hattiesburg police have not released any information about the shooting at this time.

McDaniels, who was a senior, was a cornerback on the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) football team. He was a member of the Ole Miss football team in 2021 and 2022. He attended George County High School.

“The University of Southern Mississippi and the Athletic Department mourn the loss of MJ Daniels, whose life was lost Tuesday evening in an off-campus incident. We send our sincere condolences to his family, friends and teammates during this difficult time,” USM officials said in a statement to WJTV 12 News.

USM Student Counseling Services have been made available to members of the Golden Eagle football program and those close to the university.