NEWTOWN, Conn. – Six people were killed, including one victim as young as seven years old, after a 24-year-old man opened fire at three different locations in a rural area near West Point, Mississippi on Friday. Most of the victims were members of the shooter’s own family.
Police have arrested a suspect, and they are charged with murder. The suspect was in possession of a rifle and a handgun at the time of their arrest. How they obtained the weapons is currently unknown. Their motive is also unknown at this time.
Mississippi has one of the highest gun death rates in the country, and held the highest ranking overall in 2023, which is the most recent available data from CDC. The state experienced at least 15 mass shootings throughout 2025, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Additionally, on New Year’s Day 2026, four people were injured in a mass shooting in Jackson, Mississippi after a fight broke out inside a nightclub.
In response to Friday’s attack, Nicole Hockley, co-founder and CEO of Sandy Hook Promise and mother of Dylan who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, issued the following statement:
“This is an unfathomable tragedy for the family and the loved ones that have been shaken by this senseless shooting, and for the entire community of West Point. Four members of the same family, including a precious seven-year-old girl, as well as two local faith leaders, were taken by gun violence that should have been prevented. The pain inflicted by this act will leave lasting scars. We stand with all of the loved ones and the community of West Point in demanding a safer future for all.
“When you know the warning signs of violence and how to get help, tragedies like mass shootings and many other forms of violence and self-harm can be prevented. That is how lives can be saved, and children can be protected from gun violence.”
For more information about gun violence prevention, resources for how communities can heal after a tragedy, and information about ways to support life-saving firearm access policies, please visit sandyhookpromise.org.
###
Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) envisions a future where all children are free from school shootings and other acts of violence. As a national nonprofit organization, SHP’s mission is to educate and empower youth and adults to prevent violence in schools, homes, and communities. Creators of the life-saving, evidence-informed “Know the Signs” prevention programs, SHP teaches the warning signs of someone who may be in crisis, socially isolated, or at-risk of hurting themselves or others and how to get help. SHP also advances school safety, youth mental health, and responsible gun ownership at the state and federal levels through nonpartisan policy and partnerships. SHP is led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012.
Media Contact:
Nick Dmitrovich | [email protected] | 203-304-9780 Ext. 279