Leland, Mississippi — October 11, 2025:
A late-night shooting in the small Mississippi city of Leland left four people dead and at least a dozen others injured, officials said Saturday.
According to Mayor John Lee, 16 people were shot and four have been confirmed dead following gunfire that erupted near downtown Leland around midnight. Authorities have not yet clarified whether the fatalities were included in the total number of victims.
“No one is in custody at this time,” Lee told CNN, adding that investigators are actively working to determine what led to the violence. The Leland Police Department confirmed that an investigation is underway but declined to release additional details.
The shooting reportedly took place during a community gathering that followed Leland High School’s homecoming football game. State Senator Derrick Simmons told The Associated Press that residents had gathered downtown to celebrate when the incident occurred.
“People were just congregating and having a good time in the downtown of Leland,” Simmons said. “It’s just senseless gun violence. What we are experiencing now is a proliferation of guns just being in circulation.”
Mayor Lee noted that the shooting did not occur near the high school campus.
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI) is assisting local authorities in the case and has deferred further comment to the Leland Police Department.
Leland, a quiet community of roughly 4,000 residents located about 115 miles northwest of Jackson, is now reeling from one of its deadliest acts of violence in recent years.
Officials have urged anyone with information about the shooting to contact local law enforcement as the investigation continues.
