The Baltimore comedian Reginald “Reggie” Carroll has died after being shot in northern Mississippi, according to authorities and media reports.
The entertainer was 52, and among those who have paid tribute to him was the Oscar-winning actor Mo’Nique, who called Carroll a “brother” in comedy.
Police in Southaven, Mississippi, said officers found a critically wounded Carroll while responding to a shooting on Burton Lane on 20 August. Though he underwent emergency treatment at a hospital in nearby Memphis, Tennessee, Carroll died from his injuries.
Southaven police said one man was arrested in connection with Carroll’s killing and had been jailed on one count of murder. The police later identified the arrested suspect as Tranell Marquise Williams, 38, the Memphis news station WMC reported.
Investigators had not discussed a possible motive in the standup comic’s slaying as of Monday morning, though they had made it a point to say it was “isolated”.
The Memphis news station Fox13 reported Monday that a Burton Lane-based company that billed itself as the official site for merchandise of comedian Micah “Katt” Williams was evicted from its rented address in the wake of the shooting. A letter left at the company’s address – and addressed to multiple occupants including Tranell Williams – cited “criminal activity that occurred on or about the premises in violation of [its] lease agreement”, Fox13 added.
Fox13 said the letter went on to mention a shooting as well as an arrest made by Southaven police.
The outlet reported that Carroll and Katt Williams, a fellow standup comic, had recently been on tour together.
Carroll gained a following while performing in comedy clubs across the US, and word of his death had left that circuit in mourning.
“Thank you for being one of the OGs who supported us early on,” Baltimore’s Mobtown Comedy said on social media. “The Mobtown family and the Baltimore comedy community are very saddened by this loss of one of our city’s great talents. Sending our prayers to Reggie’s family.”
On Instagram, Mo’Nique – who is from the Baltimore area and won the 2010 best supporting actress Oscar for her performance in Precious – said she had “an amazing time being on tour together” previously with Carroll.
“This is why I always say treat people the best you can because you never know if you’ll get a chance to see them again,” Mo’Nique said. “And the last time me and my brother Reggie, girl, was together – that’s what it was, an amazing time being on tour together, being on that road together, what a time, so I have no sad tears because all of our times together was amazing.”
Among Carroll’s credits on the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) is an episode of The Parkers, a sitcom which starred Mo’Nique. As Deadline noted, he also appeared on the live variety series Showtime at the Apollo – and more recently he was in the 2023 standup special Knockout Kings of Comedy as well as in the 2022 television movie Rent & Go.
Southaven police additionally offered condolences to Carroll’s loved ones, saying in a statement: “our thoughts [are] with [his] family.”
The agency’s statement also thanked the public “for their patience and understanding” as the investigation into Carroll’s murder continued.