A Night of Friendship Turns into a Scene of Devastating Loss

What began as an ordinary gathering among friends on Lilly Street in Bristol, Tennessee, turned into a night that the community will never forget. Shortly after midnight on November 23, 2025, tragedy struck when an argument erupted outside a home in the 100 block of Lilly Street. Police responded to a desperate 911 call and, upon arrival, found three young people shot  two of them already gone, their lives stolen in an instant. The victims, identified as 20-year-old Deonte Wright and 21-year-old Lexi Coleman, lost their lives before help could reach them. The third victim, who was shot inside the home after gunfire allegedly continued through the doorway, was rushed to a hospital and remains in “very critical” condition. What was supposed to be a simple night among friends turned into a nightmare that shattered families and shook an entire neighborhood.

A Community Reeling After a Senseless Act of Violence

According to witness accounts, a group of friends had intended to attend a party, only to learn it had been canceled. Instead, they gathered at the Lilly Street home where Kevin Collin lived. Just after midnight, 18-year-old Elijah Campbell arrived with three other males. An argument broke out in the yard — one that escalated with horrifying speed. Witnesses state that Campbell pulled out a firearm and shot both Wright and Collin outdoors before firing into the home and striking Coleman. The violence was sudden, shocking, and devastating. Police later recovered a Glock with an extended magazine at the scene, a chilling reminder of how quickly an argument can turn fatal when a weapon is involved. Friends of the victims describe them as loving, joyful, and full of life — the kind of people whose absence leaves an unmistakable emptiness. Families are left grappling with a loss too heavy to comprehend, their futures forever changed in a single moment of violence.

Searching for Answers While Grieving Lives Cut Short

As the investigation continues, the Bristol community has come together in grief, mourning the promising lives stolen that night. Two families are now facing the unimaginable reality of burying their children, while the third victim’s loved ones stand by a hospital bed praying for a miracle. The alleged shooter, Elijah Campbell, is now in custody and is scheduled for a court appearance on December 11. Community members are demanding justice, answers, and change — hoping that no other family has to endure the pain now felt across Lilly Street. The loss of Wright and Coleman is more than a headline; it is a devastating reminder of the fragility of life and the deep wounds violence leaves behind. Their names, their smiles, their futures — all taken in a moment that should never have happened. As candles are lit and tributes are shared, one message echoes throughout the community: these young lives mattered, and they will not be forgotten.