BEAUMONT, Texas – The Beaumont community is grappling with a profound and heartbreaking loss this week following the death of 25-year-old Nastazia Corbin, who succumbed to injuries sustained in a shooting at an apartment complex in the 2250 block of West Virginia Street.
What initially began as a critical incident involving two gunshot victims has now become a homicide investigation, leaving family members, friends, and neighbors struggling to process the sudden and violent end of a young woman’s life.
According to the Beaumont Police Department, officers were first dispatched to the apartment complex late Monday evening following reports of gunfire in the area. Upon arrival, first responders discovered two individuals suffering from gunshot wounds. One of them was Nastazia Corbin, who was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition. The second victim, whose identity has not yet been released by authorities pending family notification, also sustained serious injuries and remains hospitalized.
For nearly 24 hours, family members kept a vigil at the hospital, praying for Corbin to pull through. But just after 9 p.m. on Tuesday night, doctors delivered the news that no family ever wants to hear: Nastazia Corbin had succumbed to her injuries. She was pronounced dead at the hospital, becoming the city’s latest victim of gun violence.
The Beaumont Police Department’s Homicide Unit has since taken over the investigation. As of Wednesday morning, no arrests had been made, and detectives are actively canvassing the apartment complex and surrounding neighborhood for witnesses, surveillance footage, and any additional evidence that could lead to a suspect.
“This is an active and ongoing investigation,” a Beaumont Police spokesperson said in a brief statement. “We are asking anyone with information about the shooting on West Virginia Street to come forward. The loss of Ms. Corbin is a tragedy, and we are committed to finding those responsible.”
The Victim: Nastazia Corbin, 25 – A Life of Promise Cut Short
For those who knew her, Nastazia Corbin was far more than a headline or a police report number. She was a daughter, a sister, a friend, and a young woman who had only just begun to carve out her place in the world. Born and raised in Beaumont, Nastazia was a 2018 graduate of West Brook High School, where teachers remembered her as a quiet but determined student with a warm smile and a loyal group of friends.
“Nastazia had this energy about her,” said her cousin, Keisha Corbin, speaking outside the family’s home on Wednesday morning, her voice choked with tears. “She wasn’t loud or flashy. But when she walked into a room, you felt safe. You felt like someone cared. And now she’s gone because somebody decided to pull a trigger.”
Family members describe Nastazia as a devoted mother to her 4-year-old daughter, Amara. In recent months, she had been working at a local daycare center while taking online classes at Lamar State College Port Arthur, pursuing a degree in early childhood education. “She wanted to open her own daycare one day,” her mother, Regina Corbin, told reporters. “She said she wanted to help kids who didn’t have much, just like she grew up. She was only 25. She had so much more to give.”
Friends have flooded social media with tributes. One post on Facebook read: “Nastazia, you were the realest. You always checked on me when I was going through stuff. I can’t believe you’re gone.” Another wrote: “Another young soul taken by gun violence. Rest easy, girl. We got your baby.”
A GoFundMe campaign organized by a family friend had already raised more than $6,000 within hours of its creation, with a goal of $15,000 to cover funeral expenses and establish a small trust fund for Amara. “Nastazia gave everything to her daughter,” the campaign page reads. “Now it’s our turn to give back.”
The Scene: 2250 Block of West Virginia Street
The shooting occurred at an apartment complex in the 2250 block of West Virginia Street, a residential area in central Beaumont that has seen an uptick in crime over the past year. The complex, which consists of several two-story buildings with exterior walkways, is located near the intersection of West Virginia Street and Concord Road, approximately one mile south of Interstate 10.
Neighbors reported hearing what sounded like multiple gunshots around 10:30 p.m. on Monday night. “It was pop, pop, pop – maybe six or seven shots,” said a resident who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation. “Then we heard screaming. A woman was yelling, ‘Somebody call 911! Please, somebody help!’ I looked out my window and saw two people on the ground. It was chaos.”
Police arrived within minutes, according to department logs. Crime scene tape cordoned off a large section of the parking lot, where investigators spent hours marking shell casings, photographing the scene, and interviewing nearby residents. A dark-colored sedan with its driver’s side window shattered was later towed from the lot, though police have not confirmed whether the vehicle belonged to either victim or a potential suspect.
As of Wednesday afternoon, detectives have not released any information regarding a possible motive. However, sources close to the investigation — who were not authorized to speak publicly — indicated that the shooting may have stemmed from a dispute between individuals who knew each other, rather than a random act of violence. Beaumont Police have neither confirmed nor denied that possibility, stating only that “all leads are being pursued.”
The Second Victim: Critical but Alive
While the community’s focus has rightly been on the loss of Nastazia Corbin, authorities have not forgotten the second victim — a male whose identity remains undisclosed. According to hospital sources, that individual remains in critical but stable condition at a Beaumont-area trauma center. He suffered at least one gunshot wound to the torso and underwent emergency surgery early Tuesday morning.
Police have not confirmed whether the second victim is a witness, a bystander, or a participant in the events leading up to the shooting. What is known is that he has been cooperating with investigators, though his medical condition has so far limited the length and depth of those interviews.
“We are hopeful that he will make a full recovery, and when he does, we will be speaking with him extensively,” a Beaumont Police detective said on condition of anonymity. “He may hold the key to understanding exactly what happened Monday night and who was responsible.”
Community Reaction and Calls for Justice
News of Nastazia Corbin’s death has sent shockwaves through Beaumont, a city of roughly 115,000 residents in Southeast Texas. On Wednesday morning, a makeshift memorial appeared at the entrance of the apartment complex on West Virginia Street — teddy bears, candles, handwritten notes, and a framed photograph of Nastazia holding her daughter. By noon, the memorial had grown to include dozens of flowers and several balloons, one of which read “Forever 25.”
Community leaders have begun speaking out. Beaumont Mayor Roy West issued a statement Wednesday afternoon, saying, “The death of Nastazia Corbin is a tragic reminder that gun violence steals not only lives but also futures. My heart breaks for her young daughter, for her mother, for everyone who loved her. The city of Beaumont will not rest until justice is served.”
The Beaumont Police Department has increased patrols in the West Virginia Street area and has assigned additional detectives to the case. They are asking any residents with home surveillance cameras or doorbell cameras to check their footage from the night of the shooting, specifically between 10:15 p.m. and 10:45 p.m.
“Even if you don’t think you saw something, you might have,” the police spokesperson said. “A car driving away too fast. A person running through a parking lot. Voices arguing. All of that could be evidence.”
A Grim Pattern: Gun Violence in Beaumont
The death of Nastazia Corbin adds to a troubling statistic. According to data from the Beaumont Police Department, the city recorded 12 homicides in 2024, with gun violence accounting for the vast majority. So far in 2025, there have been six homicides, including Corbin’s. The West Virginia Street corridor has been a particular focus for law enforcement, with three separate shootings reported within a half-mile radius since January.
“We are seeing too many young people, too many mothers and fathers, dying on our streets,” said Reverend Marcus Taylor of the Greater New Hope Baptist Church in Beaumont. “Nastazia is not a number. She is a child of God, a mother, a woman who deserved to grow old. We need more than thoughts and prayers. We need action. We need witnesses to come forward. We need the community to say ‘enough is enough.’”
Local anti-violence organizations, including Mothers Against Violence Beaumont and the Beaumont United Front, have announced plans for a candlelight vigil this Friday evening at 7 p.m. at the apartment complex on West Virginia Street. Organizers hope the vigil will not only honor Nastazia Corbin but also pressure anyone with information about the shooting to speak with police.
“Somebody out there knows who pulled that trigger,” said Debra Simmons, a volunteer with Mothers Against Violence. “And if you know, you have a moral obligation to come forward. Not for the police. For that little 4-year-old girl who has to grow up without her mother.”
The Investigation: What Comes Next
As of this writing, the Beaumont Police Department’s Homicide Unit has not named any suspects or persons of interest. Detectives are reviewing surveillance footage from the apartment complex and nearby businesses, processing forensic evidence collected from the scene, and following up on tips submitted through the department’s anonymous tip line.
An autopsy has been ordered by the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office, though officials have stated that no foul play beyond the shooting itself is suspected. Nastazia Corbin’s body will be released to her family in the coming days, and funeral arrangements are pending.
Police are urging anyone with information to contact the Beaumont Police Department at (409) 832-1234. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Southeast Texas Crime Stoppers at (409) 833-TIPS (8477) or through their mobile app. A cash reward of up to $1,000 may be available for information leading to an arrest and indictment.
How the Community Can Help
Beyond providing tips to law enforcement, residents looking to support the Corbin family can contribute to the verified GoFundMe campaign titled “Justice and Memorial for Nastazia Corbin,” which can be found by searching the platform. Donations will go directly to funeral expenses, family counseling, and a trust for her daughter, Amara.
Additionally, the Beaumont Community Foundation has opened a separate fund to support gun violence prevention programs in the city. Donors can specify “West Virginia Street Shooting Response” when contributing.
Conclusion: A Legacy of Love, Not Violence
As the sun sets over Beaumont on Wednesday evening, the reality of Nastazia Corbin’s death is only beginning to settle. At just 25 years old, she had decades of life ahead of her — decades of watching her daughter grow up, of earning her degree, of opening that daycare she dreamed about. All of that was stolen in a matter of seconds by an act of senseless violence.
Her mother, Regina Corbin, ended a brief interview with a message that cut through the grief: “If you know something, say something. Not for revenge. Not for hate. For my daughter. For my granddaughter. For the 25 years that Nastazia deserved but didn’t get to live. Please. Just tell the truth.”
The 2250 block of West Virginia Street will eventually return to its normal rhythm of children playing, neighbors talking, and cars passing by. But for those who knew Nastazia Corbin — for her family, her friends, her coworkers, and most of all her 4-year-old daughter — the world has shifted permanently.
Nastazia Corbin was more than a victim. She was a mother, a student, a friend, a young woman with dreams and flaws and an enormous capacity to love. She will be profoundly missed.
Rest in peace, Nastazia Corbin.
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