Four killed in mass shooting after Mississippi football game

After the mass shooting in the US state of Mississippi, four people died and 12 people were injured, four seriously.

The attack occurred around midnight on the main street of Leland, a small town 120 miles (190 km) northeast of the state capital Jackson, the small city’s Mayor, John Lee, told the BBC.

Lee added that four of the injured were airlifted to hospital. While no suspect has been detained, the police investigation continues.

Leland was busier than usual on Friday; The local high school would play a football game to celebrate homecoming, an annual U.S. tradition, usually in the fall, when former students are welcomed back to celebrate school spirit and community.

The mayor said the attack did not take place on the Leland High School campus.

“This has been an event we’ve run every year for years and we haven’t had any incidents of this nature before,” Lee told the BBC.

“And we’re a city of about 3,700 people where the crime rate isn’t high. We all get along well and everyone knows everyone. So this is definitely a tragedy for us.”

A fatal shooting was also reported Friday night in Heidelberg, another small Mississippi town about 200 miles southeast of Leland.

Heidelberg Police Chief Cornell White told the Associated Press that this attack also took place on the town’s graduation weekend and killed two people.

There is no indication that the Leland and Heidelberg attacks are linked.