Survivors of AT&T shooting share story of tragic events

GULFPORT, Miss. (WXXV) — As the Gulf Coast community mourns the deaths of two people shot and killed at a Gulfport AT&T store on Labor Day, two survivors are speaking out to share their story.

“The back door was closed and there were shots still going off, and we were all running out the back door just screaming ‘Somebody call 911! Somebody call 911!'” said Courtney Ladner.

On a seemingly normal Labor Day morning, tragedy struck at the AT&T store in Gulfport’s Crossroads Parkway shopping center — a shooting that left two people dead – 31-year-old AT&T employee Shane Basquill and 78-year-old Mary Anne Oberlies, a customer inside the business.

Suspect, 71-year-old Samuel Jerome Andrews, is now in custody, facing two counts of first-degree murder, but many in the community are left stunned and searching for answers.

“It was a normal day. Just a normal day. And this truck just randomly pulled up on the sidewalk, and Keekee [Keesler Brown] made the comment, she said, ‘Oh gosh, I’m scared.’ And me and Olivia both looked at her and we’re like, ‘Why are you scared,’ and she said, ‘Shane. He’s back.’ And that’s when Shane was walking to the door,” said Ladner.

“When he [suspect Samuel Andrews] got out the vehicle, he was calm as could be — face completely blank. Shane walked to the door because he knew something was fixing to happen, and the guy shot, and it knocked him off his feet, and then everybody started running. Keekee Keesler, she finally got to the back door, put her pin code in, and everybody ran out,” said Olivia Pratt.

Reporter: “What would you say was going through your mind?”

Ladner: “My kids. My kids. My kids that were out here. I had to get to my kids.”

They say there were two heroes inside the store that day, sacrificing their lives to save those inside.

“[Keekee Keesler Brown] was very much a hero, and so was Shane,” said Pratt. “It would have been even worse than it was. He was very much a hero yesterday.”

“Shane was trying so hard to get to that door, and his family deserves to know that,” Ladner said.

Survivors Ladner and Pratt say they woke up on Tuesday thanking God that they made it out alive.

“It was the most traumatic experience I’ve probably ever, ever had in my life,” Pratt said.

“It was horrifying. It was probably something I never thought that I would experience in this lifetime. Ever,” said Ladner. “I couldn’t imagine today being different because of what happened yesterday. I couldn’t imagine waking up without her [Olivia Pratt], or having my kids wake up without me, or my parents waking up, or her parents. I couldn’t imagine that. It has changed the whole entire view. First thing I did this morning when my eyes opened was, ‘Thank you, God. Thank you, God for another day.’ Cause yesterday could have been it.”

We also spoke with a man named Dustin, who was inside the nearby Barnes & Noble when the shooting happened. He says when the gunshots rang out, customers were told there was an active shooter situation nearby. For the next two hours, they were kept inside the store as the situation unfolded outside.

Dustin says when they were finally allowed to leave, they encountered an AT&T employee who he describes as “inconsolable.” He says the employee kept repeating, “my manager is gone.”

An AT&T spokesperson said in a statement on Tuesday that they are heartbroken by the tragedy that occurred at the Gulfport store, and that their thoughts are with all those affected and their loved ones. AT&T says they are focused on supporting the store’s team and are cooperating fully with law enforcement.

Flowers, balloons, and photos now line the front of the business, standing as a memorial for those whose lives were tragically cut short.