Mississippi shooting: Gunman kills six including ex-wife and stepfather in small rural town
A gunman has killed six people, including his ex-wife and stepfather, in a mass shooting in Mississippi.
The killings took place at multiple locations in Arkabutla, Tate County, a small rural town near the state border with Tennessee.
Suspect Richard Dale Crum, armed with a shotgun and two handguns, killed a man in the driver’s seat of his truck, which was parked outside a shop.
He then moved on to a nearby home, where he fatally shot his ex-wife and wounded her current husband.
Finally, the 52-year-old went to the area of his own home, where police found the bodies of his stepfather and stepfather’s sister in a neighbouring house.
The bodies of two workmen were also discovered, one dead in a car and another in the road.
Crum was arrested at the scene.
The incident took place across multiple locations, one of which was outside a shop
‘That’s the scary part’
Initially, Crum was arrested for killing 59-year-old Chris Eugene Boyce in his truck.
The other victims have been identified as Debra Crum, 60; Charles Manuel, 76; John Rorie, 59; George McCain, 78; and Lynda McCain, 78.
“Everybody has crime, and from time to time we have violent crime, but certainly nothing of this magnitude,” Tate County Sheriff Brad Lance said.
“Without being able to say what triggered this, that’s the scary part.”
Witness Ethan Cash told television network WREG-TV, that he checked for the pulse of Mr Boyce after hearing a gunshot from inside his house.
Police next to the vehicle of one of the victims
‘This has been something else’
Norma Washington told The Associated Press that Mr Boyce was her nephew. She said he and his brother, Doug, who escaped the scene unharmed, had been cleaning up a property they inherited from their deceased uncle.
“I lost my brother, and now this one,” Ms Washington said. “This has been something else.”
It was unclear whether Crum knew either of the brothers.
Arkabutla lies about 30 miles (50km) south of Memphis, Tennessee, and is home to 285 residents. It is located near Arkabutla Lake, a reservoir that is a popular fishing and recreational destination.
One resident, April Wade, said the community is so small that most people know each other.
“I think it’s crazy,” she said. “You do not expect something like that to happen so close to home.”
President Joe Biden said he and first lady Jill Biden were mourning the six victims and praying for the survivors. He urged Congress to act on gun law reforms to address what he called “an epidemic” of gun violence.
Donald Trump has waded into the debate surrounding Sydney Sweeney’s jeans ad.
The American Eagle ad, which features the 27-year-old actress, who starred in the HBO series Euphoria and White Lotus, has the tagline “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans”.
It has sparked a debate in the US over race and Western beauty standards.
One of the Sydney Sweeney jeans ads. Pic: AP
In a Truth Social post, the US president described it as the “hottest ad out there”.
Hailing Sweeney as a “registered Republican”, he said the jeans are “flying off the shelves”, adding: “Go get ’em Sydney!”
Most of the criticism of the ad has centred on videos using the word “genes” instead of “jeans”, with one in which Sweeney says: “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair colour, personality and even eye colour. My jeans are blue.”
Critics argued the play on words potentially promotes eugenics, a discredited theory that believed humanity could be improved through the selective breeding of certain traits.
But others have defended the ad, saying the critics are reading too much into its message.
The video appeared on American Eagle’s Facebook page and other social media channels, but is not part of the ad campaign.
In a statement on Instagram on Friday, American Eagle Outfitters said the campaign “is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story. We’ll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone.”
Stocks in American Eagle Outfitters jumped by 23.3% after Mr Trump’s intervention.
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In his Truth Social post, which he reposted three times to fix various typos, Mr Trump compared the ad with “woke” ones “on the other side of the ledger” – as he criticised other companies, as well as hitting out at Taylor Swift.
“The tide has seriously turned – Being WOKE is for losers, being Republican is what you want to be,” he wrote.
Sky News has contacted Sweeney’s agent for comment.
Police in Tennessee have discovered 14 improvised explosive devices in a man’s home as they were arresting him, the local sheriff’s office said.
Officers were executing a warrant in the home of Kevin Wade O’Neal in Old Fort, about 45 miles (70km) east of Chattanooga, after he had threatened to kill public officials and law enforcement personnel in Polk County.
After arresting the 54-year-old, officers noticed “something smouldering” in the bedroom where he was found.
Kevin Wade O’Neal. Pic: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
On closer inspection, they discovered an improvised explosive device and evacuated the house until bomb squad officers arrived at the scene.
Fourteen devices were found inside the property – none of which detonated.
Improvised explosive devices were found in Kevin Wade O’Neal’s home. Pic: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
Kevin Wade O’Neal’s home in Old Fort, Tennessee. Pic: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
O’Neal was charged with 11 counts of attempted first-degree murder, corresponding to nine officers and two other people inside the property when the suspect tried to detonate the devices.
He also faces 14 counts of prohibited weapons and one count of possession of explosive components.
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O’Neal is being held at the Polk County jail and his bond is yet to be determined.
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