Leland, Mississippi — What began as a celebration following a high school homecoming game spiraled into horror late Friday night, when gunfire erupted in the town’s downtown, leaving six people dead and at least ten others wounded, authorities confirmed Sunday. In a close community of just over 3,600, the shock is deep, and the hunt for answers is urgent.
The gathering had been described by local leaders as a routine affair—families, students, alumni mingling under the lights after Leland High’s game—yet in a moment, the night collapsed into terror. State Senator Derrick Simmons, relaying information from the scene, said the participants were congregated downtown when the shots rang out. Local officials say they are still unsure who pulled the trigger, or why.
At a Saturday evening news conference, Mayor John Lee spoke with timeworn sorrow. “We are in the midst of a great loss,” he said, asking the public for prayers and assistance. “Everything else is under investigation. We don’t have information as far as who did the shooting or any of that. But we are here to get to the bottom of this.”
The Washington County Coroner’s Office later disclosed that two of the injured succumbed to their wounds, raising the official death toll to six. The coroner identified them as 18-year-old Amos Brantley Jr. and 34-year-old JaMichael Jones. The four who died on site were Kaslyn Johnson (18), Calvin Plant (19), Oreshama Johnson (41), and Shelbyona Powell (25).
Authorities are working to piece together what unfolded that night. Robert Eickhoff, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Jackson Field Office, said that investigators are pursuing “subjects” tied to the incident and urged community members to come forward with any information. “People who were enjoying themselves last found themselves faced with violence that no community should be faced with,” he said. The ATF has also joined the investigation, providing DNA analysis and assisting in matching shell casings via a national system.
The shooting in Leland was the deadliest in a series of violent episodes across Mississippi this weekend. In Heidelberg, an event on a high school campus left two dead during a homecoming celebration. Authorities have identified an 18-year-old man who is being sought for questioning. Late Friday, another shooting occurred in Sharkey County at South Delta High School in Rolling Fork, where two individuals were injured and two arrests were made. On Saturday evening, a shooting near Alcorn State University in Lorman wounded multiple people and triggered a campus-wide shelter-in-place order.
In Leland, the aftermath is heavy with grief and unanswered questions. Local residents described scenes of chaos, with bodies strewn along city streets, frantic screams, and first responders struggling to triage the wounded. Washington County Supervisor Mala Brooks recalled glimpsing blood and hearing panicked shouts. Survivors and family members have congregated at City Hall and in homes, demanding clarity and accountability.
Mayor Lee said this level of violence is unheard of in Leland, a town where neighbors look after each other, and crime has historically been low. “This could have easily been in another city just like it was here in Leland, Mississippi,” Lee said, a painful echo of disbelief. Authorities have imposed curfews, canceled public events, and called for calm as investigations continue.
For now, the days ahead will be devoted to unraveling motive and locating those responsible. The people of Leland are left mourning, wary, and watching. If you were in the area Friday night or have any information—even something small—officials say now is the time to speak.