30 minutes south of Memphis Tennessee, lies yet another county grieving the impact of gun violence.

Article by Georgia Simon, Associate Reporter

ARKABUTLA, Miss. - Six people are dead and one is wounded after a gunman went on a shooting spree across Tate County, Mississippi on February 17th. The suspect in question opened fire on his ex-wife, before moving on to local civilians and possibly other family members, including his stepfather. He is now facing first-degree murder charges. 

Timeline: 

Police got the first notification around 11 a.m. after Richard Dale Crum, the suspect in question, 52, shot a driver in a parking lot of Arkabtula, Mississippi, killing the driver. There was another passenger in the car that was not injured. 

After heading into the store, Crum went over to his ex-wife's house, fatally shooting her while also hurting her fiancée, at their residence. 

Police found the suspect after identifying his car in front of a home, wherein a back road of the house, two more of his victims laid shot and killed, one in a vehicle and one on the road. 

Near the suspect's residence, another two victims were found dead inside a home, a man and a woman, who are suspected to be related to Crum. 

There was another person injured from this attack, however, they got treated by emergency workers and did not need to go to the hospital for further attention. 

Police obtained Crum whilst he was trying to leave the scene of the crime. They searched his car where they found multiple handguns as well as a shotgun. 

The suspect is currently being held at Tate County Jail. 

Victims: 

Chris Boyce, 60, was the victim sitting in his car when he was fatally shot. The siblings of John Rorie, 59, and Charles Manuel 76, were among the victims, alongside George McCain, 73, Lynda McCain, 78, and Debra Crum, 60, who have also passed away. 

Reactions: 

Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves, sent his condolences to the families, saying “Please pray for the victims of this tragic violence and their families at this time.”

While President Biden left a powerful message, beginning with the simple word “Enough.” 

“We are 48 days into the year and our nation has already suffered at least 73 mass shootings. Thoughts and prayers aren’t enough. Gun violence is an epidemic and Congress must act now,” President Biden, said.

“Jill and I are mourning for the six killed in today's violence in Tate County, Mississippi-as we have for far too many Americans. We grieve with their families and with Americans nationwide as gun violence claims yet more lives. We are also praying for the recovery of those injured in this horrendous attack and for survivors who will carry both grief and trauma with them for the rest of their lives.”

Ending his statement, President Biden once again urged Capitol Hill to take action for gun reform. 

“We need—need—commonsense gun law reforms. That includes requiring background checks on all gun sales, banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, fully closing the boyfriend loophole to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers, requiring safe storage of guns, and eliminating immunity for gun manufacturers who knowingly put weapons of war on our streets,” President Biden, said. “These are commonsense steps that Congress could take right now and save lives. We owe action to American communities being torn apart by gun violence.”