Mississippi shooting: 4 killed 12 injured during Leland homecoming celebrations

At least four people were killed and 12 others were injured in a shooting early Saturday (Oct 11) in Leland, Mississippi, officials said. According to reports, the incident happened at a downtown event taking place during Leland High School homecoming weekend. Four of the injured people were airlifted to local hospitals. There was no immediate information about the condition of the victims, while reports claimed that four of the injured were critical.

The shooting happened during a gathering after Leland High School’s homecoming football game, around midnight on the main street in Leland. No one has been arrested in connection with the shooting as of now, and an investigation is underway. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation said that it was assisting in the investigation, but deferred to Leland police for further details on the incident. Manhunt for the suspect involved in the shooting is ongoing.

Leland Mayor John Lee told CNN that the shooting did not on the campus of the high school, without giving further details about the incident.

The small town of Leland is about 120 miles (190 km) north-east of Jackson and has a population of about 4,000 residents. The city was busier than usual on the night of the incident due to a football game to mark homecoming, an annual tradition in the US that is held usually in autumn.

Speaking to BBC, Lee said, “This is an event where we have held yearly for years and hadn't had any incidents of this sort, ever.”

“And we’re a city that, not high crime and about 3,700 people. We all get along, and everybody knows everybody. So this is definitely a tragedy to us,” he added.

(This is a developing story.)