An 18-year-old Ole Miss freshman football player was killed in a mass shooting at a pool party in Cordova, Tennessee, on July 19, 2025, leaving authorities searching for suspects and appealing to the public for information.
Corey Adams, a defensive lineman from New Orleans, Louisiana, was found with a gunshot wound inside a vehicle at the intersection of Forest Hill-Irene and Walnut Grove roads around 10:14 p.m. CT on Saturday night. Life-saving measures were administered, but Adams was pronounced dead at the scene by the Shelby County Fire Department.
The shooting occurred after a pool party attended by approximately 100 people at a residence on Fern Glade Cove in the Memphis suburb of Cordova. Anthony Buckner, chief deputy of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, revealed that investigators discovered more than 40 rifle and pistol shell casings at the scene, indicating gunfire from multiple weapons.
Four other men sustained non-life-threatening gunshot wounds and arrived at nearby hospitals in personal vehicles before first responders reached the scene. Three of the four victims had been released from the hospital as of Monday afternoon, July 21. The identities of these victims were not disclosed by authorities.
Adams’ mother, Chantrel Bernhart, attended a news conference on July 21 and indicated that her son had only been at the party for 10 minutes before the shooting occurred. She noted that Adams was enjoying time off from practice and had traveled to Memphis to relax. Bernhart stated, “He didn’t deserve to die.”
The investigation remains active with no arrests made as of the latest reports. Buckner indicated there is believed to be one or more suspects involved in the shooting. Deputies had responded to a noise complaint at the same residence earlier in the day, though investigators have not determined what led to the violence.
Authorities are actively seeking surveillance footage from neighborhood cameras and eyewitness accounts from the party attendees. Buckner emphasized that with more than 100 people present at the gathering, investigators believe someone has information that could lead to arrests. The sheriff’s office plans to increase the Crime Stoppers reward this week to encourage more people to come forward.
Adams was a highly regarded recruit who had enrolled early at Ole Miss in January 2025 to participate in spring practice. The 6-foot-4, 235-pound defensive end was rated as a three-star prospect and had committed to Ole Miss over offers from Oregon, TCU, USC and other major programs.
At Edna Karr High School in New Orleans, Adams was a two-time first-team All-State selection. During his junior year, he recorded 51 tackles and 12 sacks, establishing himself as one of the top defensive lineman recruits in the country.
The Ole Miss football program released a statement expressing devastation over Adams’ death and requesting privacy for his family during the difficult time. The team indicated they would not comment further out of respect for the family and asked the Ole Miss community to keep Adams in their thoughts.
Adams’ former high school team, the Edna Karr Cougars, posted on Facebook that Adams was more than a football player, describing him as a friend, brother, son, student and all-around great young man. The post expressed the team’s inability to understand the loss.
Sources close to the investigation confirmed that other Ole Miss athletes also attended the pool party, though their identities have not been disclosed. The shooting has prompted ongoing interviews with party attendees as investigators work to piece together the events leading to the violence.
Adams’ mother indicated at the news conference that her son had aspirations of playing in the NFL and was a loving son and brother. She has remained in contact with Chief Deputy Buckner regarding the ongoing investigation and efforts to hold those responsible accountable.
The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office continues to encourage anyone with information about the shooting to contact CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH or 901-222-5600. Investigators are particularly interested in surveillance footage from homes in the neighborhood and any eyewitness accounts from the party.