The annual Homecoming celebration in the city of Leland, Mississippi, turned into a bloody tragedy as local authorities reported on Saturday that four people were killed and at least 12 others injured in a mass shooting that occurred around midnight on a main street in the city.

The incident happened during a gathering after a football game at Leland High School, shocking the small town of about 4,000 residents, with four of the injured being transported to hospitals in critical condition.

Homecoming is an American annual tradition in high schools, bringing together students and alumni to celebrate school spirit through football games and gatherings, attracting thousands of visitors to small towns like Leland.

Mayor John Lee confirmed to the media that the incident did not occur on school grounds but led to street closures and deployment of emergency forces, with the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation assisting in the inquiry.

According to U.S. authorities, there is no information yet on the motive or identity of the perpetrators, but preliminary reports suggest random gunfire or an escalated personal dispute. State Senator Derek Simmons said, “This is a tragedy turning youth joy into sorrow, and we must reconsider security at school events.”

Police and emergency services rushed to the scene immediately, closing off the area to collect evidence. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation announced it is leading the investigation in cooperation with local police, urging witnesses to come forward with information.

Mayor Lee declared a temporary state of emergency, and the school closed its doors today for investigation, with calls for donations to the victims’ families. At the state level, organizations like the NAACP have called for increased security patrols at school events while launching awareness campaigns about gun violence in the Mississippi Delta.

The city of Leland is located in the Mississippi Delta, a region in the southern United States known for its rich agricultural history, especially cotton farming, and was a center of civil rights protests in the 1960s against racial discrimination.