The violence broke out in the town’s downtown area. Crowds had gathered there following the game. Mississippi State Senator Derrick Simmons confirmed the tragic incident.
Senator Simmons received updates directly from law enforcement. He described the situation as “very chaotic.” Police, sheriff’s deputies, and ambulances responded from all over.
Simmons called the event “senseless gun violence.” He pointed to a proliferation of guns in circulation. The town of Leland has fewer than 4,000 residents.
Four victims were first taken to a Greenville hospital. They were later flown to a larger facility in Jackson for further treatment. Officials have asked anyone with information to come forward.
Law enforcement has made an arrest in the case. Jasper County police named a person of interest. They identified him as Tylar Jarod Goodloe, an 18-year-old.
Goodloe has been detained by authorities. The Jasper County Sheriff’s Department shared his mugshot on its Facebook page. The arrest provides a development in the ongoing investigation.
Police are still urging witnesses to contact them. They want anyone at the football game with information to call the sheriff’s department or the Heidelberg police chief. The community is seeking answers and justice.
The Leland High School shooting has devastated a small Mississippi community. This tragedy highlights the ongoing challenge of gun violence in America. The investigation continues as the town mourns its loss.