Hours after three people were killed and eight others injured, the victims returned to Indian Creek Trail, where crime tape surrounded the devastating scene. “There’s too much innocent blood being spilled and it hurts me,” Joe said. Johnson said the group rented out the field for three hours after Holmes County Unified Schools returned from school. Holmes County Sheriff Willie March said a gunman opened fire on a crowd on the school grounds. “There was 30 minutes left, so I was about to comment, ‘It’s not going to be long,’ and then I heard a gunshot,” Johnson said. The gunman operated the switch on his weapon. “I’m a Vietnam veteran, so I can’t tell you the exact caliber, but I know it was like a machine gun and it was like a repeat,” Johnson said. Deputies say the incident happened after an altercation at a nearby property. Johnson says there is always security at all events, including this one. The sheriff identified the three victims who died as 25-year-old Martel Gibson, 19-year-old Shundra Chesnutt and 19-year-old John Jenkins, and several other victims had to be airlifted to hospitals. He said there was. Johnson said her nephew was among those shot. “My sons were there and they were very lucky they didn’t get shot. My nephew is in the hospital right now,” Johnson said. The sheriff says there are no suspects at this time. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is assisting in this case.
Holmes County, Mississippi —
Hours later, with three people dead and eight injured, the victims returned to Indian Creek Trail, where the devastating scene was surrounded by crime tape.
“There’s so much innocent blood being spilled, and that hurts me,” said Joe Johnson, co-owner of the property.
Johnson said a group of people rented out the field for three hours after school at Holmes County Unified School.
Holmes County Sheriff Willie March said a gunman opened fire on a crowd of people participating in a trail ride around 12:30 a.m. Saturday night.
“There was 30 minutes left and I was about to comment, ‘It’s not going to be long,’ and then I heard a shot,” Johnson said.
Police believe the suspect operated the weapon by flipping a switch on it.
“I’m a Vietnam veteran, so I can’t tell you the exact caliber, but I know it was some kind of machine gun. It seemed like it was repeating itself,” Johnson said.
Deputies say the incident occurred after an argument broke out on a property off North Highway 17, just eight miles from Lexington.
Johnson said safety is always ensured at all events, including this one.
“We have security. Sometimes they confiscate weapons and stop and deter it, but this time for some reason they got in with them,” he said.
The sheriff’s office identified the three murdered victims as Martel Gibson (25), Shundra Chesnutt (19) and John Jenkins (19).
Deputies say several other victims had to be airlifted to hospitals in Jackson.
Johnson said her nephew was among those shot.
“My sons were there too and I was really lucky they weren’t shot. My nephew is in the hospital now,” he said.
Johnson says the field has always been a safe place.
The sheriff says there are no suspects at this time. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is assisting in this case.
