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Mississippi shooting news:  At least four individuals were killed and 12 injured in a mass shooting that broke out in Leland, Mississippi, at homecoming festivities, local officials reported Saturday. The shooting came shortly after a late-night high school football game, stunning the close-knit community.

According to Mayor John Lee, the shooting happened around midnight on the city’s main street, a popular area bustling with residents celebrating Leland High School’s annual homecoming festivities. “It is a tragic night for our community. Our thoughts are with the families affected by this senseless violence,” Mayor Lee told CBS News.

Leland, a town of about 120 miles northeast of state capital Jackson, was unusually packed for the occasion. Homecoming is an American tradition that involves students, graduates, and locals in festivities to promote school spirit via football games, parades, and downtown functions. The festivities devolved into mayhem with the outbreak of gunfire that left several victims and widespread terror.

Four Airlifted, Investigation Underway

Authority reported four survivors who were seriously injured to have been airlifted to nearby hospitals, including Jackson's Baptist Medical Center, for emergency care. The victims, both dead and injured, have yet to have their identities released, pending notification of their families.

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Local officials are actively pursuing the case. No arrests have yet been made, and police are looking for an 18-year-old suspect to question in relation to the shooting. Jasper County Sheriff Randy White confirmed that investigators were working out the sequence of events and asked for anyone with information to call the Heidelberg Police Chief or the Sheriff's Office.

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The shooting has left the small city of about 3,500 residents dealing with fear and grief. People who had come out to celebrate the homecoming of their school were confronted with immediate violence, transforming a celebratory night into a sight of horror. Authorities have emphasised the need for witness cooperation in figuring out the suspect and the reasons behind the attack.