Eight people are now confirmed dead and at least 10 others injured in separate shootings in three Mississippi counties on the night of Friday, Oct. 10.
Most of the casualties occurred during a shooting in Leland in the Mississippi Delta. Washington County Coroner LaQuesha Watkins said in a Saturday morning press release that four victims declared dead at the scene were 41-year-old Oreshama Johnson, 19-year-old Calvin Plant, 25-year-old Shelbyona Powell and 18-year-old Kaslyn Johnson. She said the Hinds County Coroner’s Office confirmed the death of 18-year-old Amos Brantley Jr., followed by the Shelby County Coroner’s Office confirming the death of 34-year-old JaMichael Jones. Both were shot last night in Leland, but died this morning.
In addition to the six confirmed deaths, Leland Mayor John Lee told the Guardian that gunfire injured at least 10 others. Lee said the shooting happened following Leland High School’s homecoming game Friday evening. He added that no suspects were in custody as of Saturday morning.
A separate shooting happened in the town of Heidelberg, in East Central Mississippi, where two people died from gunfire on Heidelberg High School’s campus. Gov. Tate Reeves said on his Facebook page Saturday that one of the victims was an expectant mother. Heidelberg Police Chief Cornell White told The Associated Press that the school was celebrating its own homecoming weekend Friday, though it is unknown as of press time when the shooting took place. WLBT reported Saturday morning that the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office has taken a person of interest into custody.
A third shooting took place at South Delta High School in Rolling Fork, about 40 miles south of Leland in the Delta. WLBT reported that it is unknown as of press time whether there were any injuries or fatalities.
Reeves said on Facebook that the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is assisting local law enforcement with the cases.
Officials have not yet released potential motives for any of the shootings.
If you have any additional information to share on these events, please email kevin@mississippifreepress.org.
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