Sheriff: Gunman kills 6, together with ex-wife, in Mississippi

A lone gunman killed six individuals together with his ex-wife and stepfather Friday at a number of areas in a tiny rural neighborhood in northern Mississippi, the sheriff stated, leaving investigators trying to find clues to what motivated the rampage.

Armed with a shotgun and two handguns, 52-year-old Richard Dale Crum opened fireplace at about 11 a.m. and killed a person within the driver’s seat of a pickup truck parked exterior a comfort retailer in Arkabutla, close to the Tennessee state line, Tate County Sheriff Brad Lance stated.

Deputies have been working the crime scene when a second 911 name alerted authorities to a different taking pictures a couple of miles away. After arriving at a house, they discovered a lady, whom the sheriff recognized as Crum’s ex-wife, shot lifeless and her present husband wounded.

Lance stated deputies caught up with Crum exterior his own residence and arrested him. Behind the residence they discovered two handymen slain by gunfire — one within the highway, one other in an SUV. Inside a neighboring residence, they found the our bodies of Crum’s stepfather and his stepfather’s sister.

“Everyone has crime, and infrequently we now have violent crime, however definitely nothing of this magnitude,” Lance stated in an interview. He added: “With out having the ability to say what triggered this, that’s the scary half.”

Crum, 52, was jailed with out bond on a single cost of capital homicide, and Lance stated investigators have been working to carry extra fees. It was not instantly recognized if Crum had an lawyer who might converse on his behalf.

That preliminary homicide cost was for the killing of Chris Eugene Boyce, 59, the person who was shot exterior the shop. Boyce’s brother was within the truck with him on the time and fled, in accordance with the sheriff. Lance added that Crum chased the brother by a wooded space earlier than he escaped unhurt.

Deputy Tate County Coroner Ernie Lentz recognized the others killed as Debra Crum, 60; Charles Manuel, 76; John Rorie, 59; George McCain, 73; and Lynda McCain, 78. Lentz additionally stated Boyce was from Lakeland, Florida.

Ethan Money, who lives close to the shop, advised WREG-TV he heard a gunshot from inside his home.

“I had simply woken up and I look again right here, and I see dude strolling again right here with a shotgun,” he stated.

Money added that he went to the scene and located one one that had been shot. He checked for a pulse, however discovered none.

Within the foyer of the Sheriff’s Workplace, Norma Washington advised The Related Press that Boyce was her nephew. She stated he and the brother, Doug, who lives in Alaska, had been on the town cleansing up a property they inherited from their deceased uncle.

“I misplaced my brother, and now this one,” Washington stated. “This has been one thing else.”

It was unclear whether or not Crum knew both of the brothers.

The killings shocked residents of Arkabutla, residence to 285 individuals and situated about 30 miles south of Memphis, Tennessee. It is the hometown of famed actor James Earl Jones, and close by Arkabutla Lake is a well-liked fishing and leisure vacation spot.

An elementary college and a highschool in close by Coldwater each went on lockdown whereas the suspect was being sought, in accordance with the Coldwater Elementary College Fb web page. A short while later, a second publish on the web page stated the lockdown had been lifted and “all college students and employees are protected.”

April Wade, who lives in Arkabutla and grew up in Coldwater, stated each are small communities the place most individuals know one another, “however if you happen to don’t, you recognize anyone who is aware of anyone.”

Talking from an area tire retailer within the afternoon, Wade stated she and her husband have been conscious of the shootings however had not but heard the names of the suspect or victims.

“I feel it’s loopy,” Wade stated. “You don’t anticipate one thing like that to occur so near residence.”

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives stated its brokers have been offering help to the sheriff’s division and state investigators. Lance stated one among their prime priorities was to find out a motive.

The sheriff, who has lived within the space his complete life and served in legislation enforcement for 25 years, stated he might recall no prior issues with Crum.

The U.S. has seen a lethal begin to 2023, together with six mass killings in a three-week interval in January, in accordance with an Related Press/USA At this time database. It defines a mass killing as 4 or extra individuals lifeless, not together with the perpetrator.

There have additionally been numerous mass shootings by which fewer individuals have been slain, comparable to Monday’s taking pictures at Michigan State College by which three individuals have been killed and 5 have been wounded.

In a press release, President Joe Biden stated he and first girl Jill Biden have been mourning the six victims and praying for the survivors. He urged Congress to behave now on gun legislation reforms to deal with what he referred to as “an epidemic” of gun violence.

Further reporting by the Related Press.