Dedeaux Park drowning victims identified

A heartbreaking scene unfolded last night as the community mourns the loss of three 14-year-old boys who drowned at Dedeaux Park on the Biloxi River.

Harrison County Deputy Coroner Brian Switzer confirmed that Travis Roberson, Javonte Johnson, and Eric Smith Jr. were pulled from the water yesterday evening. Their deaths were determined to be accidental drownings.

Switzer said a large group was together when one of the boys began struggling and another boy went into the water to help, but also began to struggle. A third boy tried to rescue the other two, but all three went underwater and never resurfaced.

News 25 was told by officials that a man attempted to rescue the boys, but he was not able to get to them.