Four people were killed and at least 12 others injured after a mass shooting broke out in Leland, Mississippi, during a high school homecoming celebration on Friday night.
The incident happened around midnight on the town’s main street, about 120 miles northeast of the state capital, Jackson. Leland Mayor John Lee confirmed the tragedy in a statement on Saturday, saying the shooting occurred as crowds gathered after Leland High School’s homecoming football game.
“This has never happened before in our town. We’re known for getting along well with each other,” Lee told local media. “I extend my condolences to the families and those injured.”
Four of the injured victims were airlifted to hospitals in critical condition, though officials have not released their names or conditions.
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation has taken over the case, while police continue to search for the suspects. Authorities said no one has been arrested yet, and details about the attackers remain unclear.
State senator Derrick Simmons confirmed that the shooting took place after the homecoming game between Leland High School and Charleston High School.
“We are heartbroken by this senseless violence,” Simmons said. “Our thoughts are with the families who lost loved ones and with those fighting for their lives.”
The Leland Police Department said the investigation was ongoing and appealed to residents for cooperation.
Leland, a quiet town in Washington County with a population of about 3,800, has never experienced a mass shooting of this scale.
Mayor Lee urged calm and unity, adding, “We need to be in prayer for our city.”
