The United States witnessed a weekend of bloodshed as two separate mass shootings — in Mississippi and South Carolina — left at least ten people dead and dozens more injured.
In Leland, Mississippi, what began as a festive high school homecoming celebration ended in horror late Friday night.
Gunfire erupted in the city’s downtown area shortly after a football game, leaving six people dead, including a pregnant woman, and about 20 others injured.
Witnesses described scenes of chaos as multiple shooters reportedly opened fire on a crowd of revelers.
“It all happened so fast. People were falling, others running for their lives,” one witness recounted.
Authorities said at least one gunman is believed to have been involved. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, assisted by federal agents, has launched a manhunt, though no arrests have been made.
“This is a dark day for our city,” said the Mayor of Leland. “We are grieving deeply and praying for the families affected.”
In an unrelated incident, another mass shooting early Sunday morning at Willie’s Bar and Grill on St. Helena Island, South Carolina, left four people dead and at least 20 others wounded.
According to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, the shooting broke out during a crowded late-night gathering. Several of the wounded remain in critical condition.
Sheriff P.J. Tanner confirmed that the FBI has joined the investigation.
“This level of violence is unacceptable,” he said. “We intend to find whoever is responsible and hold them fully accountable.”
The weekend’s tragedies add to America’s growing gun violence crisis.
According to the Gun Violence Archive, the country has recorded more than 500 mass shootings in 2025 — an alarming figure that underscores a deepening national emergency.
President Donald Trump, whose administration faces mounting pressure to confront the epidemic of gun violence, has yet to issue an official statement on the weekend’s incidents.
