HATTIESBURG, Miss. — A quiet neighborhood on the 500 block of 7th Avenue was shaken Tuesday afternoon when officers with the Hattiesburg Police Department found three people dead inside a house during a welfare check. The victims were identified as 37‑year‑old Thomas O’Neil, 32‑year‑old Brianna Bruno and their three‑year‑old son.
Police say they were called to the home on January 27, 2026, after someone raised concerns about the family’s well‑being. When officers entered, they discovered all three unresponsive inside the residence and immediately called detectives and crime scene personnel to begin an investigation.
Autopsy results released January 29 showed that both Thomas and the young child died from gunshot wounds. Their deaths were ruled homicides. Brianna was also found with a gunshot wound, but medical examiners determined her death to be a suicide. Authorities have stressed that this appears to be an isolated incident and there is no known threat to the wider community.
Neighbors and friends in Hattiesburg are still trying to process what happened. For many, the loss of a young family is deeply painful. People who knew Thomas, Brianna and their son remember them as loving, ordinary people who were part of the fabric of their neighborhood. Candlelight vigils and heartfelt messages have been shared around town as residents express shock and sorrow.
Officials have asked the public to respect the privacy of the victims’ relatives during this difficult time. Family members are planning private services, and community leaders say support networks are being organized to help those closest to the tragedy.
The Hattiesburg Police Department continues to investigate the circumstances leading up to the deaths and has encouraged anyone with information to come forward. Detectives are piecing together the timeline of events and hope to provide a more complete picture as the inquiry unfolds.
In the wake of the tragedy, local ministers, friends and neighbors have offered prayers and support, hoping to bring some comfort to a community reeling from the sudden and devastating loss of a family taken far too soon.
