Mississippi shooting: Gunman kills six including ex-wife and stepfather in small rural town

A gunman has killed six people, including his ex-wife and stepfather, in a mass shooting in Mississippi.

The killings took place at multiple locations in Arkabutla, Tate County, a small rural town near the state border with Tennessee.

Suspect Richard Dale Crum, armed with a shotgun and two handguns, killed a man in the driver’s seat of his truck, which was parked outside a shop.

He then moved on to a nearby home, where he fatally shot his ex-wife and wounded her current husband.

Finally, the 52-year-old went to the area of his own home, where police found the bodies of his stepfather and stepfather’s sister in a neighbouring house.

The bodies of two workmen were also discovered, one dead in a car and another in the road.

Crum was arrested at the scene.

‘That’s the scary part’

Initially, Crum was arrested for killing 59-year-old Chris Eugene Boyce in his truck.

The other victims have been identified as Debra Crum, 60; Charles Manuel, 76; John Rorie, 59; George McCain, 78; and Lynda McCain, 78.

“Everybody has crime, and from time to time we have violent crime, but certainly nothing of this magnitude,” Tate County Sheriff Brad Lance said.

“Without being able to say what triggered this, that’s the scary part.”

Witness Ethan Cash told television network WREG-TV, that he checked for the pulse of Mr Boyce after hearing a gunshot from inside his house.

‘This has been something else’

Norma Washington told The Associated Press that Mr Boyce was her nephew. She said he and his brother, Doug, who escaped the scene unharmed, had been cleaning up a property they inherited from their deceased uncle.

“I lost my brother, and now this one,” Ms Washington said. “This has been something else.”

It was unclear whether Crum knew either of the brothers.

Arkabutla lies about 30 miles (50km) south of Memphis, Tennessee, and is home to 285 residents. It is located near Arkabutla Lake, a reservoir that is a popular fishing and recreational destination.

One resident, April Wade, said the community is so small that most people know each other.

“I think it’s crazy,” she said. “You do not expect something like that to happen so close to home.”

President Joe Biden said he and first lady Jill Biden were mourning the six victims and praying for the survivors. He urged Congress to act on gun law reforms to address what he called “an epidemic” of gun violence.