Isiah Jamal Pierce died attempting to save Mahogany R. Brownlow from burning, Laurel, Mississippi, December 19, 2018. Mahogany, 1, remained inside a bedroom she shared with her mother and Pierce, 27, chicken plant laborer, after fire broke out in the home at night. Mahogany’s mother removed Mahogany’s three older siblings from the home while Pierce attempted to douse the fire with buckets of water. Unsuccessful, Pierce exited the home through the front door as flames and smoke intensified. When Pierce and Mahogany’s mother realized the girl was still inside, Pierce took a deep breath and ran back into the burning home through the front door as dense, black smoke began to fill an interior hallway. He did not return outside. Fire shortly spread throughout the home, and firefighters were unable to safely enter it until after the fire was extinguished. Firefighters found the bodies of Mahogany and Pierce in the bedroom. The two had died of smoke inhalation. 90249-10156
90249 – 10156
90249-10156