Hattiesburg Police Department has been investigating the death of Douglas Newman, who was struck by a vehicle in the 5700 block of Highway 49 in Hattiesburg in the early morning hours of Friday morning, transported to the hospital and later succumbed to his injuries. Officers responded to the scene around 2:44 a.m. where they discovered Newman but not the driver.
That afternoon, a juvenile was brought to HPD by his parents, who fully cooperated with investigators. He was taken into custody and charged with leaving the scene of an accident causing a death. While the investigation is still ongoing, it is unlikely that more details will follow as the identity and actions of juveniles are not released publicly unless they are tried as an adult.
According to the Fieldhouse for the Homeless’ Facebook page, Newman was affectionately referred to as “Red.” In a post, the organization said, “Red had found freedom, a transformed man, overjoyed to be reunited with his second family at the Fieldhouse. Unshackled from addiction's chains, he spent his final moments spreading the life-altering Good News of Christ and uplifting others with his cherished gospel songs.”
A memorial service will be held at Fieldhouse for the Homeless, located at 5712 Highway 49 South in Hattiesburg, at 9 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025.
