6 fatally shot in small Mississippi city, suspect in custody

At least six individuals had been shot useless in Tate County, Mississippi after a collection of shootings on Friday.

Arkabutla,UPDATED: Feb 18, 2023 03:49 IST

One individual has been arrested in connection to the incident (Photo: File | Representative)

By Associated Press: Six individuals had been fatally shot Friday in a small city in rural Mississippi close to the Tennessee state line, and authorities stated they’d taken a suspect into custody.

Mississippi Department of Public Safety spokesperson Bailey Martin confirmed the killings in Arkabutla, in Tate County, to The Associated Press.

Gov. Tate Reeves’ workplace stated he had been briefed on the shootings and a male suspect was in custody.

“At this time, we believe he acted alone,” Reeves stated in an announcement. “His motive is not yet known.”

Tate County sheriff’s dispatcher Shannon Brewer additionally confirmed {that a} suspect, who was not recognized, was in custody. Brewer stated additional data must come from Sheriff Brad Lance, who couldn’t instantly be reached by cellphone and didn’t instantly reply to an e mail message.

An elementary college and a highschool in close by Coldwater each went on lockdown whereas the suspect was being sought, in response to the Coldwater Elementary School Facebook web page. A short while later, a second put up on the web page stated the lockdown had been lifted and “all students and staff are safe.”

Arkabutla resident April Wade, who grew up in Coldwater, stated each are small communities the place most individuals know one another, “but if you don’t, you know somebody who knows somebody.”

Speaking from a neighborhood tire retailer within the afternoon, Wade stated she and her husband had been conscious of the shootings however had not heard the names of the suspect or victims.

“I think it’s crazy,” Wade stated. “You do not expect something like that to happen so close to home.”

The shootings are the primary mass killing within the U.S. since Jan. 23, which noticed the final of six in a three-week interval, in response to an Associated Press/USA Today database. It defines a mass killing as 4 or extra individuals useless, not together with the perpetrator.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives stated its brokers had been offering help to the sheriff’s division and state investigators.

Arkabutla lies about 30 miles (50 kilometers) south of Memphis, Tennessee, and is residence to 285 residents in response to the 2020 Census. Nearby Arkabutla Lake is a well-liked fishing and leisure vacation spot.

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Published On:

Feb 18, 2023