Mississippi Mass Shooting: Four people were killed and at least 12 others injured when gunfire broke out following a homecoming football game in Leland, Mississippi, late Friday night, officials reported. The shooting occurred around midnight Saturday on a main street in the small town, according to Mayor John Lee, who spoke to CBS News.
“Four of the injured were airlifted to nearby hospitals, including Baptist Medical Center in Jackson,” Mayor Lee said, noting that officials could not disclose the extent of their injuries. Authorities have yet to identify any suspects or make any arrests.
Details of Shooting at Leland High School
The tragedy took place amid the town’s homecoming celebrations. Earlier that evening, Leland High School had hosted its homecoming football game at 7 p.m., according to local reports.
Leland, located in Washington County, has a population of approximately 3,500 residents.
❗️⚠️🇺🇲 – A mass shooting erupted in downtown Leland, Mississippi, during post-game celebrations after a high school homecoming football victory late Friday night, killing four people and injuring 16 others—four of whom remain in critical condition and were airlifted to a nearby… pic.twitter.com/G7bOxLtuZn
— 🔥🗞The Informant (@theinformant_x) October 11, 2025
Johnie Cooks, Leland High School Alumnus and NFL Star
The town also mourns the loss of one of its notable former residents, late Giants Super Bowl champion Johnie Cooks. Cooks attended Leland High School before playing college football at Mississippi State. He was drafted No. 2 overall by the Baltimore Colts in the 1982 NFL Draft.
🇺🇸 4 PEOPLE DEAD IN LELAND, MISSISSIPPI: HOMECOMING TURNS TO HORROR
What should’ve been a small-town celebration ended in chaos.
4 people are dead and at least 12 wounded after gunfire erupted just after midnight on Leland’s main street, hours after the high school homecoming… pic.twitter.com/qFdEsiy1uy
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) October 11, 2025
Cooks later joined the New York Giants during the 1988 season and remained with the team through the 1990 campaign. He was a key contributor to the Giants’ Super Bowl victory over the Buffalo Bills in January 1991. Over the course of his NFL career, Cooks appeared in 128 games across 10 seasons. In 2023, Cooks suffered a stroke and passed away at the age of 64.
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Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
