Three individuals lost their lives, and eight others sustained injuries in a devastating shooting incident at a trail ride party in Holmes County, Mississippi. The tragic event occurred as attendees were celebrating a school's homecoming football victory several hours after the game had ended.
The Holmes County Sheriff’s Office swiftly responded to a distressing report of a shooting on Highway 17 around 12:30 a.m. on Saturday morning. Sheriff Willie March shared that the shooting unfolded as a large group of young people gathered for a post-homecoming game party on the trail ride, approximately three to four hours after the conclusion of the Holmes County Consolidated School’s homecoming game on Friday night.
According to authorities, a dispute erupted among some partygoers, leading to a violent altercation where firearms were brandished, resulting in gunfire. Tragically, three individuals lost their lives in the chaos: Martel Gibson, 25, Shundra Chestnut, 19, and John Jenkins, 19. Additionally, eight other victims sustained gunshot wounds and were promptly transported to nearby hospitals for medical attention.
Approximately 200 to 300 individuals were present at the trail ride celebration when the sudden eruption of gunfire caused panic and chaos, prompting attendees to flee the scene in fear for their safety. Sheriff March described the scene as tumultuous, stating, 'It was chaos, to tell you the truth. The shooting just started, and people started running.'
The Holmes County Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating the tragic incident to determine the circumstances that led to the shooting and identify those responsible for the violence. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families during this difficult time as the community grapples with the aftermath of this senseless act of violence.
