At least six people were killed and 12 others injured in three separate shootings that occurred during high school homecoming events across Mississippi on Friday night — in the towns of Leland, Heidelberg, and Rolling Fork.
Leland shooting:
Mississippi state Senator Derrick Simmons told The Associated Press that the shooting in Leland took place after a high school football homecoming game. Four of the victims were taken to a hospital in Greenville before being airlifted to a larger facility in Jackson. Simmons said he was receiving updates from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement agencies investigating the incident.
Leland Mayor John Lee told the BBC that the shooting did not occur on the Leland High School campus. “This is an event we’ve held yearly without any incidents. We’re a small, peaceful city of about 3,700 people, where everyone knows each other. This is definitely a tragedy for us,” he said.
Heidelberg shooting:
In Heidelberg, two people were killed during the high school’s homecoming weekend. Police Chief Cornell White confirmed that both victims were shot on the school campus Friday night but did not specify whether they were students. The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office said that 18-year-old Tylar Jarod Goodloe has been taken into custody for questioning. The shooting occurred while the Heidelberg Oilers were playing their homecoming football game, though it remains unclear when exactly the gunfire broke out or how close it was to the stadium.
Rolling Fork shooting:
A third shooting reportedly took place at South Delta High School in Rolling Fork during another football game the same evening. The Sharkey County Sheriff’s Department said two people have been arrested and charged in connection with the incident, according to WLBT.
Authorities have not indicated whether the three shootings were connected.
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