Six killed in sequence of shootings in Arkabutla; suspect in custody, sheriff says

Six folks had been killed in a sequence of shootings Friday in northwestern Mississippi, authorities mentioned. A suspect is in custody, the sheriff’s workplace in Tate County, Mississippi, confirmed to CBS Information.

The shootings occurred at three areas in Arkabutla, Mississippi, the sheriff’s workplace said in a Facebook post. Officers did not determine the victims.

“We’re within the very early levels of the investigation so we are able to solely launch a restricted quantity of knowledge,” the sheriff’s workplace mentioned. 

The sheriff’s workplace recognized the suspect as Richard Dale Crum, 52, of Arkabulta and mentioned he was charged with first-degree homicide. The suspect was being held with out bond and would face extra costs.

The shootings occurred at a retailer and houses in Arkabutla, Tate County Sheriff Brad Lance told CBS affiliate WREG-TV.

In response to the sheriff, a person was shot on the retailer and 5 different folks had been shot at properties within the small city. The suspect was taken into custody after a chase, the sheriff informed the station.

“At the moment, we consider he acted alone,” Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves mentioned in a statement on Facebook. “His motive just isn’t but identified.”

Ethan Money, 19, informed WREG-TV he heard gunshots from inside his residence and noticed a person with a shotgun outdoors. Money ultimately went outdoors to see what occurred.

“I’m going as much as the truck the place a man acquired shot at, and I test his pulse and all the things, ensure he is OK,” Money mentioned. “He is already gone at this level.”

The governor mentioned the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation was requested to help within the investigation. Brokers with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in New Orleans had been additionally offering help, the agency said.

“Please pray for the victims of this tragic violence and their households at the moment,” Reeves mentioned.

In an announcement Friday night time, President Biden mentioned that he and first girl Jill Biden had been “mourning for the six killed.”

Mr. Biden, who in his State of the Union deal with final week referred to as on Congress to move a ban on assault weapons, reiterated his perception Friday that the U.S. wants “commonsense gun regulation reforms.”

“That features requiring background checks on all gun gross sales, banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, totally closing the boyfriend loophole to maintain weapons out of the arms of home abusers, requiring protected storage of weapons, and eliminating immunity for gun producers who knowingly put weapons of warfare on our streets,” Mr. Biden mentioned. “These are commonsense steps that Congress may take proper now and save lives.”