Six people were shot to death Friday in a small town in rural Mississippi near the Tennessee state line, authorities said.
Mississippi Department of Public Safety spokesman Bailey Martin confirmed the killings in Arkabutla, in Tate County, to Associated Press.
Gov. Tate Reeves’ office said it had been informed about the shootings and that a suspect was in custody.
“At this time, we believe that he acted alone,” Reeves said in a statement. “His motive for him is not yet known.”
Tate County Sheriff’s Office Shannon Brewer further confirmed that a suspect was in custody.
An elementary school and a middle school in nearby Coldwater were closed while the suspect was searched, according to the Coldwater Elementary School Facebook page. A short time later, a second post on the page said the lockdown had been lifted and “all students and staff are safe.”
Arkabutla is located about 50 kilometers south of Memphis, Tennessee, and is home to 285 residents as of the 2020 census. Near Lake Arkabutla is a reservoir that is a popular fishing and recreation destination.
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