Today : Oct 13, 2025
U.S. News
13 October 2025

Mississippi Homecoming Shootings Leave Communities Shattered

A wave of gun violence at high school and university events across Mississippi leaves at least nine dead, dozens injured, and officials searching for answers as investigations unfold.

Mississippi communities are reeling after a devastating series of shootings at high school football and homecoming events left at least nine people dead and dozens more wounded over a harrowing 24-hour period this past weekend. The violence, which erupted in several towns across the state, has sparked urgent calls for action and left families and officials searching for answers as investigations continue.

The deadliest incident unfolded shortly after midnight on Saturday, October 11, in downtown Leland, a tight-knit town of about 3,700 residents. According to the Associated Press and reporting from NPR, crowds had gathered on Main Street following Leland High School’s homecoming football game against Charleston. The annual post-game gathering is typically a time for families and friends to reunite, but this year, it was shattered by gunfire that left six people dead and at least 20 others injured.

Washington County Coroner La’Quesha Watkins confirmed that four victims died at the scene, while two more succumbed to their injuries at a local hospital. The deceased were identified as Oreshama Johnson, 41, Calvin Plant, 19, Shelbyona Powell, 25, Kaslyn Johnson, 18, Amos Brantley, 18, and JaMichael Jones, 34. Of the injured, four were in critical condition and were airlifted from Greenville to a larger medical center in Jackson, Mississippi, as reported by Mississippi state Senator Derrick Simmons, who described the aftermath as “very chaotic.”

“People were just congregating and having a good time in the downtown of Leland,” Simmons told the Associated Press. “It’s just senseless gun violence. What we are experiencing now is just a proliferation of guns being in circulation.”

Leland Mayor John Lee, speaking to NPR, said, “An event like this has never happened in this city. We’re a close-knit city, we’re not a violent city.” The mayor emphasized how the tragedy has shaken the community, where “everybody knows everybody.” As of Monday, no suspects had been identified in connection with the Leland shooting, and both the Leland Police Department and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation are continuing their probe.

The violence did not stop in Leland. Roughly 80 miles east, another shooting erupted at Heidelberg High School’s homecoming celebration on Friday night, October 10. Police said three people were shot, two of whom later died. According to WDAM, 18-year-old Tylar Jarod Goodloe of Bay Springs was arrested around 10 a.m. Saturday and officially charged the following day with two counts of capital murder and possession of a deadly weapon on educational property. Jasper County Justice Court Judge Jacqueline Barnett set Goodloe’s cash-only bond at $2,010,000. As of Sunday afternoon, authorities had not released the identities of the victims, and it remained unclear whether additional suspects were being investigated.

Heidelberg Police and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation are leading the inquiry. The incident has left the town, like so many others, grappling with shock and grief. “Acts of violence in our community will not be tolerated,” the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement, echoing a sentiment heard across the state.

Meanwhile, in Rolling Fork, another Mississippi community, shots rang out at South Delta High School’s football game on October 10. The Sharkey County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that at least two people were wounded, and two individuals have been arrested and charged in connection with the shooting. However, the names of those arrested and further details about the victims have not been released. The sheriff’s office issued a stern warning: “Our team of law enforcement officers are committed to pursuing justice swiftly and ensuring the safety of all residents and visitors that come to our county.”

The violence was not limited to high school events. According to WLOX, separate shootings occurred at Alcorn State University and Jackson State University’s homecoming festivities on Saturday. At Alcorn State, one person was killed and two others injured near the Industrial Technology Building; no arrests have been made. During Jackson State’s homecoming tailgate, a child was struck by gunfire and hospitalized, with no suspect in custody as of yet.

Governor Tate Reeves addressed the spate of shootings in a statement, saying, “The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is currently assisting local and federal law enforcement agencies... and those responsible will be brought to justice.” Despite these assurances, the motives behind the attacks remain unknown, leaving many in the state anxious and frustrated.

As the investigations continue, officials and law enforcement agencies are urging anyone with information to come forward. Special Agent Robert Eikhoff of the Jackson Field Office made a public plea: “You might’ve seen something, you might’ve heard something, or know someone who did. We ask you to share that information. Speak up, share, give us that opportunity to get these subjects off the street and bring peace and tranquility to our community.”

The impact of the violence has been deeply felt in each affected community. In Leland, the annual homecoming celebration—a cherished tradition where families and friends gather—was transformed into a scene of terror and loss. Mayor Lee’s words spoke to the heartbreak: “We’re a close knit city, we’re not a violent city.”

State Senator Simmons, reflecting on the broader implications, pointed to the growing problem of gun violence. According to the Gun Violence Archive, the United States has already seen more than 330 mass shootings this year, defined as incidents where four or more people are shot. The events in Mississippi have become a grim addition to those statistics, highlighting the vulnerability of even the most tight-knit communities.

As families mourn their loved ones and communities seek answers, the recurring theme is one of disbelief and sorrow. The shootings have not only taken lives but have also shaken the sense of safety and unity that these homecoming events are meant to foster. With investigations ongoing and suspects still at large in some cases, the call for justice and change grows ever louder.

For now, Mississippi’s towns are left to pick up the pieces, support the wounded and the bereaved, and hope that swift action by law enforcement will bring those responsible to account. But the scars left by this weekend’s violence will not soon fade, and the questions—why did this happen, and how can it be prevented—linger in every conversation, every vigil, and every gathering across the state.