What began as a night of celebration quickly turned into tragedy when **Leland’s homecoming festivities** erupted in gunfire, leaving **seven people dead** and dozens more wounded. The horrific mass shooting took place **downtown following the high school football game**, as crowds filled the streets to celebrate the team’s victory. In an instant, the joyful atmosphere was shattered when **multiple gunmen opened fire**, sending hundreds fleeing for cover.Witnesses described chaos and terror as bullets ripped through the crowd. “
People were screaming and dropping everywhere,” one attendee recalled. “It was like a war zone.” Four victims died instantly on the street before help could arrive, and several more were rushed to area hospitals with critical injuries. Despite the tireless efforts of medical teams, **three additional victims succumbed to their wounds**, including **25-year-old Ebanee Williams**, who died on **October 17** after nearly a week of fighting for her life.
Authorities believe the violence stemmed from a **dispute that escalated during the celebration**, though the exact cause remains under investigation. The **Mississippi Bureau of Investigation** and local law enforcement have since arrested **nine individuals**, including **Teviyon Powell** and **William Bryant**, in connection with the shooting. Charges range from aggravated assault to murder, and officials say more arrests could follow as the case unfolds.
Community leaders have condemned the senseless act, calling it one of the darkest days in Leland’s history. Vigils have been held across the city, with residents lighting candles and praying for the victims and their families.As the community struggles to process the devastation, grief is giving way to calls for change — for peace, accountability, and an end to the violence that stole so many young lives in the very heart of their hometown celebration.
