A string of shootings apparently connected to high school football games across Mississippi left at least six people dead—including an expectant mother—and wounded many others over the weekend, authorities said.
In Leland (Washington County), four people were killed and as many as 16 were shot near downtown around midnight after Leland High School’s homecoming game, Mayor John Lee media. Police said an investigation is ongoing; no arrests had been announced as of Saturday. State Sen. Derrick Simmons told local media the violence followed a community gathering after the game.
In Heidelberg (Jasper County), two people were fatally shot and one person wounded Friday night on the grounds of Heidelberg High School, Police Chief Cornell White told the media. By Saturday, the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department said a person was in custody in connection with the shooting.
In Sharkey County, the sheriff’s department said it arrested and charged at least two people after a shooting that occurred outside a football game Friday night. “Acts of violence in our community will not be tolerated,” the department said in a Facebook statement, adding that officers are pursuing justice and public safety.
Officials said the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is assisting in the Leland case and urged patience as detectives piece together timelines, motives, and potential connections. Gov. Tate Reeves posted that the state is praying for victims and that those responsible “will be brought to justice.”
Community leaders expressed shock at the violence intruding on what are typically family-centered Friday night events. “People were just congregating and having a good time in downtown Leland,” Sen. Simmons told reporters, calling the shootings “senseless.”
What we know
- Fatalities: At least six (four in Leland, two in Heidelberg).
- Injuries: Leland officials said up to 16 people were shot; at least one person was wounded in Heidelberg.
- Custody status: No arrests announced in Leland as of Saturday; one person in custody in Heidelberg; two arrests announced in Sharkey County.
- Investigators: Local police with assistance from the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation; additional agencies monitoring.
What we don’t know yet
- Whether the incidents are directly connected beyond timing around football events.
- Motives, suspect identities (in Leland), and full victim lists.
- Exact number of injured across all scenes.
Authorities are asking anyone with photos, videos, or information from the affected areas—particularly downtown Leland around midnight—to contact local police or Crime Stoppers. As investigations continue, schools and districts are expected to review security protocols for athletic events in the coming days.
