Four people were killed and up to 20 people injured when gunfire erupted during a homecoming celebration in downtown Leland, Mississippi, late Friday night, transforming what should have been a joyous community gathering into a scene of carnage.
The shooting occurred around midnight on a main street in the small Delta town, where crowds had assembled following Leland High School’s homecoming football game against Charleston High School. The violence shattered the peaceful atmosphere of an annual tradition that brings families and friends together in the tight-knit community.
“An event like this has never happened in this city,” Leland Mayor John Lee said. “We’re a close-knit city, we’re not a violent city.”
Mississippi State Senator Derrick Simmons confirmed that approximately 20 people were shot during the incident, with four people killed and four others airlifted to the University of Mississippi Medical Centre in critical condition. Mayor Lee separately stated that 16 people had been shot, with 12 receiving treatment at hospitals. The exact number of victims remains under investigation.
The shooting did not occur on school grounds but rather in Leland’s downtown area, where residents had gathered for the traditional post-game festivities. “People were just congregating and having a good time in the downtown of Leland,” Senator Simmons stated. He was informed that after the gunfire, the scene became “very chaotic,” as police, sheriff’s deputies and ambulances “responded from all over.
The identities of the victims have not been released pending notification of families. No information has been provided regarding whether the deceased were adults or included any young people who may have attended the homecoming festivities.
“It’s just senseless gun violence,” Senator Simmons said. “What we are experiencing now is just a proliferation of guns just being in circulation.”
As of Saturday morning, no suspects were in custody. Senator Simmons appealed to the public, stating: “As the state senator for the area, we are asking any and all individuals who might have any information regarding the horrific shooting last night to come forward and provide whatever information they have”.
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation confirmed it is assisting Leland police with the investigation. The Leland Police Department declined to provide further details, citing the ongoing investigation.
Pafford EMS, which responded to the emergency, confirmed the deaths in a statement Saturday morning and offered condolences to affected families. The emergency medical service recognised the efforts of dispatchers, firefighters, law enforcement officers, flight crews, hospital staff and paramedics who responded to the crisis.
“It was homecoming weekend, of course, and everybody’s family and friends and neighbours were together having fun in the downtown area, as we do every year,” Mayor Lee explained. The annual gathering represents a cherished tradition in the small community, making the violence all the more shocking for residents.
Leland is a town of roughly 3,700 people where “everybody knows everybody,” the mayor noted. The city is located in Washington County in the Mississippi Delta region, approximately 193 kilometres northwest of the state capital, Jackson.
“My condolences to the family of the deceased,” Mayor Lee stated. “We’re just in prayer right now for our whole city because this is not something we represent here in the city of Leland.”
The mayor has asked for prayers for the community as it grapples with an unprecedented tragedy. A scheduled block party was cancelled as a safety precaution following the shooting.
According to the Gun Violence Archive, the United States has experienced more than 330 mass shootings this year, defined as incidents in which four or more people were shot. The Leland shooting adds to a disturbing pattern of gun violence at community celebrations across America.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is working alongside state and local authorities to piece together what happened during those terrifying moments when celebration turned to chaos. Investigators are appealing to witnesses who may have mobile phone footage or any information that could help identify those responsible.
As the small Delta community begins to process the tragedy, questions remain about what sparked the violence and whether multiple shooters were involved. The investigation continues, with authorities working to bring those responsible to justice whilst the community mourns its dead and prays for the recovery of the injured.
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