A horrific mass shooting occurred in Leland, Mississippi, on October 10, killing seven. The most recent victim, Ebanee Williams, 25, died from her injuries on Oct. 17 at University of Mississippi Medical Center. The shooting played out in downtown Leland only hours after a homecoming Friday night high school football game. From what I’m hearing, it included the shooting of sixteen people to death.
Six other victims went on to die tragically in that incident. They are Oreshama Johnson, 41; Calvin Plant, 19; Shelbyona Powell, 25; Kaslyn Johnson, 18; Amos Brantley Jr., 18; and JaMichael Jones. This incident is at least the 14th mass killing in the U.S. in 2025. As of October 18, the country has had more than 400 mass shootings in 2023.
Authorities have since classified the Leland shooting as mass killing. According to the Mass Shooting Tracker, this is generally considered a mass shooting when four or more victims are shot. Witnesses recounted the chaos of the scene, with one local resident, Camish Hopkins, stating, “It was the most horrific scene I’d ever seen.” Hopkins recounted seeing four dead bodies on the ground and many survivors in critical condition.
FBI officials said that the incident seems to have been triggered by a feud between a handful of people. This new discovery explains a shocking turn of events that has rattled the Memphis community to its core. It has further restarted national outcry for Congress to enact more robust gun control legislation.
In all, a total of nine people have been arrested related to the shooting so far as law enforcement pursues a continuing investigation. The devastating impact of such violence has prompted many community members and advocates to urge for action to prevent further tragedies.