A Jones County community is grieving the loss of a 16-year-old freshman after a Monday afternoon incident near a Texaco gas station on Highway 590 in Ellisville, Mississippi, left a promising young soccer player dead and a classmate behind bars.
Yahir Valiente-Alba, a student at South Jones High School, died after what witnesses described as a violent confrontation that began in a gas station parking lot and ended in a small pond nearby.
Jones County Coroner Burl Hall confirmed the teenager’s identity and said an autopsy has been ordered as investigators continue piecing together the full sequence of events.
Witness Describes What Unfolded at the Scene
Randall Blair, who was present at the Texaco on MS-590 at the time, gave a firsthand account of what he saw. He said a vehicle carrying three teenagers pulled into the parking lot, and shortly after parking, one of the boys got out and began striking the trunk of the car.
The situation escalated when the other two boys exited the vehicle and were chased by that same individual.
According to Blair, one of the teenagers managed to get back into the car and drive away. The other, Valiente-Alba, was not as fortunate.
Blair said the suspect chased him to a nearby pond, beat him, and held him underwater. When bystanders tried to step in and help, the suspect reportedly warned them off by claiming to have a gun.
Ellisville Police Department Investigator Kyle Pickett confirmed that all three teenagers knew each other and were students at South Jones High School, where Valiente-Alba was enrolled as a freshman.
Police have not yet confirmed whether a weapon was recovered at the scene, but Pickett stated that investigators are looking into whether drugs played a role in the incident.
A Community Left Mourning a Young Life
Those who knew Valiente-Alba remember him as someone who lit up every room he walked into.
He was a longtime member of the Laurel-Jones County Futbol Club and was described by his family as someone who made friends wherever he went.
A GoFundMe campaign has been set up by his family to help cover expenses during this devastating time.
Jones County School Superintendent B.R. Jones said the loss has deeply affected students and staff throughout the district.
He noted that with the school year winding down, there will be opportunities during upcoming awards programs and events to honor Valiente-Alba’s memory, and that the district plans to work closely with his family on any formal remembrance.
Blair, reflecting on what he witnessed, put it plainly: Valiente-Alba was a soccer player with a future ahead of him, and now a family is left without a child.
A classmate of Valiente-Alba was taken into custody in connection with the incident and has since been charged with manslaughter.
During his initial court appearance on Tuesday, the suspect was denied bond. Authorities have indicated that as the investigation continues, additional charges remain possible.
The Ellisville Police Department has not released the suspect’s name, as the case involves a juvenile. The investigation remains active.
