🚨 What should have been a proud Leland High School homecoming celebration turned tragic when gunfire erupted at N. Main & Fourth, leaving six dead, more than twenty injured, and nine under arrest. Investigators are still pursuing additional suspects while reviewing extensive surveillance and cellphone footage, matching ballistics, and taking new statements. Meanwhile, vigils and counseling efforts are underway as officials urge residents to share verified tips and avoid rumor-spreading.

🔎 What Happened

A long-running post-homecoming gathering spiraled into chaos when multiple shooters opened fire in a packed crowd.

• FBI and Mississippi Bureau of Investigation teams confirm video captures show several clear angles of the shooters.

• Witnesses say some armed attendees were from outside Leland, and tension escalated fast among rival groups unprepared for violence.

👮 Arrests So Far

Charged to date (more names pending):

• Tavon L. Powe (29) — Capital murder

• William Bryant (29) — Capital murder

• Morgan Latimore (25) — Capital murder

• Tory “General” S. Martin (33) — Capital murder

• Latoya A. Powe (44) — Attempted murder

Officials confirm active warrants for at least three additional suspects.

🕯️ The Victims

1. Arishma Johnson (41)

2. Jamaica Jones (34)

3. Calvin Plant (19)

4. Shabonia Powe (25)

5. Kathleen Johnson (18)

6. Amos Brantley (18)

Memorials now line the same block residents once called a safe tradition.

🧭 “This Isn’t Leland”

Locals stress their town of fewer than 4,000 rarely sees violent crime. The homecoming after-party has long ended peacefully, and many believe the gunmen imported outside conflicts into a close-knit community.

🧩 Key Investigative Threads

• Video & Ballistics: matching shooters, weapons, trajectories

• Origin Mapping: who traveled in, who fled after

• Digital Evidence: livestreams, group chats, location data

Officials say more arrests are imminent as forensics and digital traces converge.

🗣️ Community Voices

A viral Facebook post from a mother of one arrestee claims her son was hired for security and did not fire his weapon, previewing potential self-defense arguments. Prosecutors counter that coordinated gunfire in a dense crowd meets the threshold for reckless, concerted violence.

🧯 How a Safe Night Turned Deadly

• Crowd + Guns: multiple armed groups, no control buffer

• Limited Police Resources: small-town force overwhelmed

• No De-escalation Plan: arguments escalated directly to shots fired

✅ What Can Help Now

1. Scaled Security: lighting, entry checkpoints, bag checks, visible command posts

2. Conflict Interrupters: trained church / alumni mediators at large gatherings

3. Parental Checks: early intervention for armed teens or online threats

4. Healing Spaces: churches, schools, and clinics hosting grief and trauma programs

⏭️ What’s Next

• Additional charges expected as evidence tightens

• Transparency and communication from law enforcement demanded by families

• Future events may require formal city safety plans rather than informal block parties

🚨 Bottom Line

Leland isn’t a “crime town” — it suffered one horrific night.
Six neighbors are gone, scores are recovering, and nine people face charges.
The path forward demands justice for the victims and a community-wide reset so homecoming can once again mean celebration, not mourning.

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