Gunman shot dead 6 people in northern Mississippi
2023.02.18 07:09
Gunman shot dead 6 people in northern Mississippi
By Kristina Sobol
Budrigannews.com – According to the county sheriff and witnesses, a gunman went on the rampage in a small Mississippi town on Friday, killing his ex-wife and five others in three locations before being apprehended by sheriff’s deputies.
Arkabutla, a rural hamlet of less than 300 people in Tate County in northern Mississippi, about 40 miles (60 kilometers) south of Memphis, Tennessee, was the scene of the bloodshed.
Tate County Sheriff Brad Lance told reporters that Richard Dale Crum, 51, the gunman, was charged with first-degree murder.
The shooting was condemned by President Joe Biden, who called on Congress to enact gun control measures like requiring safe storage of firearms, banning assault weapons, and requiring background checks.
In a statement, Biden referred to his wife and said, “Jill and I are mourning for the six killed in today’s violence in Tate County, Mississippi – as we have for far too many Americans.”
Lance stated that the suspect’s relationship with his ex-wife would serve as a starting point for the investigation, though no motive had been established yet.
Lance stated that before deputies arrived, they received a second call about a second shooting at a nearby home. The first call was about a shooting at a gas station convenience store.
At the store, one man was shot and killed. According to Lance, a woman who was found dead at the house was later found to be Crum’s ex-wife.
According to Lance, the suspect was found in another home’s driveway by deputies, who arrested him without a fight. Four additional bodies were discovered by deputies, including According to Lance, two were in the roadway and two were behind the house.
Behind the house, there may have been a family connection between the suspect and the victims. Lance stated that the other individuals appeared to be site workers.
“There aren’t many violent crimes here. “This shocks me,” Lance stated.
According to Lance, the suspect surrendered two handguns and a shotgun to deputies.
One person who was present at some of the store’s events claimed that he considered firing at the suspect, who was armed with a shotgun, but held his fire.
Witness Ethan Cash, on the other hand, told Reuters that he took care of a man who had been shot inside his car outside the store and discovered that he had no pulse and was dead.
Cash, 18, said he then shot another man, who turned out to be the victim’s brother. Cash claimed he did this.
Cash stated, “He said, ‘Man, they just shot my brother.’ ” And I think to myself, “Man, I’m so sorry.”
Cash claimed he considered firing when he saw the suspect.
“I kind of let the officers do that. I was going to start shooting at the guy as he was pulling off, but I didn’t know who it was and didn’t want to hurt anyone. “In any case, it’s their job,” Cash stated.
Cash anticipated that the shootings would have a profound effect on the community.
Cash stated, “It’s definitely confusing when it happens,” particularly when six to seven people are killed and no one knows why.
