A Memphis man will be held accountable for the killing of a former Southaven football player.
On Thursday, Mark McDaniel was found guilty of second-degree murder in connection with the December 2022 shooting death of Christian Saulsberry. McDaniel is accused of taking Saulsberry’s life at a house party in Walls.
“This was not an accident. This was a reckless, cowardly act by a Memphis man who came to DeSoto County with the intent to cause harm,” DeSoto County District Attorney Matthew Barton said. “Christian Saulsberry was a young man with a bright future, and now he is gone, senselessly killed by someone who couldn’t control his own violent impulses.”
Saulsberry, a 2015 graduate of Northpoint High School in Southaven, played professional football for the Edmonton Elks in Canada.
The party where Saulsberry passed away was intended to be a clothing reveal and birthday celebration. McDaniel reportedly arrived early and became intoxicated, displaying erratic and confrontational behavior throughout the evening.
Despite being asked multiple times to leave, McDaniel refused, escalating tensions with other partygoers and the host. After a physical altercation with the host, McDaniel retreated to his car, retrieved a firearm, and fired indiscriminately into the crowd, killing Saulsberry.
According to Barton, eyewitnesses testified that Saulsberry was an innocent bystander who had no involvement in any of the altercations that night. With his back turned, Saulsberry was struck by two stray bullets and died from his injuries, leaving his family and community devastated.
McDaniel will be sentenced on December 17. This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Rosharwin Williams and investigated by the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office.
