Mother of Corey Adams speaks out following freshman's tragic death: 'He didn't deserve to die'

The mother of Ole Miss freshman Corey Adams, the Rebels’ incoming freshman who was shot and killed outside of Memphis on Saturday night, has spoken out about the tragic incident. She pleaded for any information that would lead to the capture of the suspect(s) in connection to the crime.

“My boys is my life. He was just coming down here to enjoy himself on his day off from practice. He didn’t deserve to die,” Adams’ mother, Chantrel Bernhart, said to media on Monday. “I’m asking for anybody who has any information to help. I can’t get my child back. I can’t get him back to see him play at Ole Miss. I can’t get him back to see him playing the NFL.”

Law enforcement have not named any potential suspects as of this report. That means Adams’ killer(s) remain at large.

Hear from Corey Adams’ mom and brother after the tragic event in Memphis

Heartbreaking pic.twitter.com/Nz2f8fgjNW

— Everything Ole Miss (@EverythingRebs) July 21, 2025

Adams’ younger brother, who’s name was withheld from the public, also spoke to the media on Monday. His brother plans to live his life through the example Adams gave him. He vowed to fulfill his dream of playing in the NFL one day. “For me and him,” he said. You could hear the emotion in both of their voices.

The fatal incident originally occurred on Saturday night on Fern Glade Cove in Cordova at 10:14 p.m. Five people were reported to have been injured in the shooting. Adams, 18, was pronounced dead on the scene from a gunshot wound.It is not currently known who the other victims of the shooting are, though they are all listed in non-critical condition. Three of them have reportedly been released from the hospital.

“Upon arrival at Fern Glade Cove, deputies found multiple shell casings and learned that four adult males arrived by personal vehicles to area hospitals with gunshot wounds,” the Shelby County (TN) Sheriff’s Office wrote on X.

Over 40 shell casings, along with a rifle and pistol were found at the scene at a residence on Fern Glade Cove. Adams was pronounced dead nearby at the intersection of the Forest Hill-Irene and Walnut Grove roads.

On the field, Adams was a three-star recruit in the Class of 2025. There, he was the 609th-ranked recruit overall in that class, and the 57th-ranked EDGE. That came after he had played his high school football at Edna Karr in New Orleans.

There, he was a two-time first-team all-state honoree, a two-time first-team all-district selection. He finished his junior season having recorded 51 tackles, 15 tackles for a loss, 12 sacks, one pick six, and six pass breakups.