SD. At Least 4 Dead, 12 Injured During Miss. Homecoming Game Mass Shooting. Police Now Have an 18-Year-Old in Custody
A weekend of celebration turned into tragedy in Leland, Mississippi, when a mass shooting claimed the lives of at least four people and left 12 others injured just after midnight on Saturday, October 11, according to reports from BBC and CBS News.
Authorities confirmed that the incident unfolded as the small Mississippi town was hosting visitors for Leland High School’s homecoming game against Charleston High School — a popular local event that drew unusually large crowds to the area.
A Night of Chaos and Tragedy
Leland Mayor John Lee told CBS News that the city was “busier than usual,” with hundreds gathered in town for the weekend festivities when gunfire erupted shortly after midnight.
Emergency crews responded swiftly, with four of the injured victims airlifted to nearby hospitals for critical treatment. Officials have not yet disclosed their conditions.
Witnesses described scenes of panic as partygoers scrambled for cover amid the sound of gunshots echoing through the streets.
Suspect in Custody
Authorities identified the suspect as 18-year-old Tylar Jarod Goodloe, who has been taken into custody. Law enforcement agencies, including the Heidelberg Police Department and the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, had been searching for Goodloe earlier in connection with another shooting that occurred Friday night at Heidelberg High School, located about three hours away.
In that separate incident, two people were shot and killed on a football field, with officials calling both shootings “connected in their violence but currently treated as separate investigations.”
Community in Mourning
Following the tragedy, Mayor Lee issued a heartfelt statement on Facebook:
“I’m deeply saddened about the tragedy that happened in the City of Leland. Due to the tragedy and for the safety of others, the block party is canceled.”
The mayor later declared a state of emergency, and a citywide curfew was imposed as a precaution.
The Leland Police Department has not yet released additional details but confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and that anyone with information is urged to come forward.
Mississippi Reeling from Back-to-Back Shootings
The Leland shooting came just hours after the deadly gunfire at Heidelberg High School, where two people were killed during a football event. Heidelberg Mayor Robert Barnett said in a statement that the city will “fully cooperate with law enforcement and the school district” and “pursue the person responsible for this devastating incident.”
These tragedies mark yet another dark chapter in a year already plagued by rising gun violence across the South, reigniting urgent calls for reform and community safety measures.
An Investigation Underway
Both the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and local police agencies are now working to determine whether the two shootings share a motive or suspect link. As of Sunday morning, authorities have not released information on potential accomplices or what led up to the gunfire.
Residents across Leland and Heidelberg have gathered for vigils and prayer services, mourning those lost and pleading for an end to the violence.
“We were supposed to be celebrating homecoming,” one local mother told reporters. “Instead, we’re planning funerals.”
💔 Four lives cut short. Twelve more fighting to recover. A community forever changed.
