Six shot dead in small Mississippi town, suspect in custody

It was believed he acted alone, and officials did not have a motive yet

Six people were shot dead Friday in a small town in rural Mississippi near the Tennessee State line, officials said.

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

Gov. Tate Reeves’ office said he had been briefed on the shootings and a male suspect was in custody. It was believed he acted alone, and officials did not have a motive yet.

Tate County sheriff’s dispatcher Shannon Brewer also confirmed that a suspect, who was not identified, was in custody.

An elementary school and a high school in nearby Coldwater both went on lockdown while the suspect was being sought, according to the Coldwater Elementary School Facebook page. A short time later, a second post on the page said the lockdown had been lifted and “all students and staff are safe.”

Arkabutla resident April Wade, who grew up in Coldwater, said both are small communities where most people know each other, “but if you don’t, you know somebody who knows somebody.”

Speaking from a local tire store in the afternoon, Ms. Wade said she and her husband were aware of the shootings but had not heard the names of the suspect or victims.