On October 11, 2025, a mass shooting occurred in Leland, Mississippi, United States, killing seven people and injuring twelve others.[3][4][5] The attack took place during annual homecoming celebrations, which draws large crowds of residents and visitors to the city. Following the shooting, an investigation was conducted which resulted in nine arrests.[6] It was the deadliest mass shooting in the United States in 2025, and the deadliest mass shooting in the history of the Mississippi Delta.
As of 2023, Mississippi had the second highest rate of deaths by firearm in the country, with 29.4 deaths per 100,000 people for a total of 844 fatalities. Only the nation's capital, Washington D.C., had a higher rate of firearm mortality.[8]
Leland is a small city in Washington County, Mississippi, located in the Mississippi Delta region. From 2021 to 2024, Washington County had the second highest rate of gun homicides in the country, only behind the city of St. Louis, Missouri, with 68.6 gun homicides per 100,000 residents.[9]
Shooting
The shooting happened around midnight as people gathered on Main Street for the city's annual homecoming celebration following the Leland High School homecoming football game. Nineteen people were shot, seven of whom died, and a further seven people suffered non-gunshot injuries.[10]
It reportedly started due to a disagreement among several individuals which escalated into a shooting, though no official motive has been confirmed due to ongoing investigation.[1][11]
Victims
Four victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while three others died later at hospitals in the region.[12][13] The injured were transported to nearby medical facilities, with some airlifted to Jackson for advanced treatment. The Washington County coroner identified those killed at the scene as 41-year-old Oreshama Johnson, 19-year-old Calvin Plant, 25-year-old Shelbyonna Powell, and 18-year-old Kaslyn Johnson.[14] 18-year-old Amos Brantley and JaMichael Jones, 34, died the following morning.[15] On October 17, 25-year-old Ebanee Williams died from her injuries.[13]
Investigation
An FBI seeking information poster of the suspects
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI) led the inquiry with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), local, and county law enforcement.[16] No arrests were announced immediately after the shooting.[17] The FBI sought four suspects in connection to the shooting, three men and one woman.[1]
Arrests
On October 13, the FBI announced that they had arrested Teviyon L. Powell and William Bryant, both aged 29, and Morgan Lattimore, aged 25, and had charged them with capital murder. A fourth person, 44-year-old Latoya A. Powell, was also arrested, but was charged with attempted murder. A spokesperson for the FBI also said that more arrests were expected.[18] A day later, the FBI announced the arrest of 33-year-old Terrogernal Martin and charged him with capital murder. The agency also said that they were seeking three more suspects, two women and a man. It was also disclosed that Teviyon L. Powell and Latoya A. Powell were aunt and nephew, and that the deceased victim, Shelbyonna Powell, was Latoya's niece.[19] On October 16, the FBI announced the arrest of four more suspects, but did not immediately release the identities of the new arrestees.[6] One suspect has still not been arrested as of January 2026.[20]
Aftermath
Local police were assisted by county and state law enforcement during the emergency response.[citation needed] Following the attack, local officials imposed temporary curfews and canceled public events.[21] State and community leaders expressed condolences to the victims' families and urged cooperation with investigators.[16]
In November, the Mayor of Leland, John Lee, stated he has "been searching for ways to curb violence," and suggested implementing Flock Safety into the city.[22]
Additional shootings
Four additional shootings occurred in Mississippi on the same weekend during homecoming celebrations. In Heidelberg, located about 320 km (200 mi) southeast of Leland, a shooting during the local school's homecoming events left two people dead, and another man suffered fatal non-gunshot injuries.[4][23][24] A second shooting took place in Rolling Fork, approximately 65 km (40 mi) south of Leland, during a football event at South Delta High School. Two people were reported injured in that incident, and two suspects were arrested and charged. Police did not confirm any connection between the three shootings.[4]
A third shooting happened at Alcorn State University's Lorman campus. At approximately 6:30p.m., officers responded to reports of shots fired near the Industrial Technology Building. Three gunshot victims were located, of whom a woman suffered fatal injuries, and no arrests were immediately made.[25] Near Jackson State University's Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium at approximately 6:15p.m., four cars were damaged by a fire that reportedly started in one vehicle and spread to the others.[26] About an hour after the fire, a child was shot in the abdomen.[25]
Mississippi GovernorTate Reeves posted on Facebook in reaction to the shootings in Heidelberg and Leland, calling the incidents "senseless acts of violence" and pledged that the perpetrators would be brought to justice.[29]
Mayor John Lee commented that the shooting "affected every one of us" and called on people to come together and work towards a solution to "prevent anything like this from happening again".[30] Lee also described the feeling in the city as "kind of numbness" in the immediate aftermath of the shooting.[31]
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