Jackson County Boy Killed After Picking Up Mardi Gras Beads

A five-year old Jackson County boy died Sunday (February 18) afternoon after accidentally being run over by a car driven by his mother. The accident happened at a home on Lilly Orchard Road in Moss Point around 2 Sunday afternoon. Sheriff Mike Ezell says  Drayke Whittington and his sister were in the back seat. The boy got out of the car to pick up Mardi Gras beads his sister threw out the window. The mother, Melissa Shields, started backing up the car, unaware that Drayke had gotten out. Sheriff Ezell says when the child tried to get back in the car, he was run over.

The sheriff says the boy died while headed by helicopter to Singing River Hospital.

No charges have been filed and the accident is still under investigation. The case will be presented to a county grand jury.