A shooting in downtown Clarksdale following the Clarksdale-Coahoma County football game Friday night has hurt three people and initially led to charges against four others.
Two of the victims were treated at the Clarksdale hospital over the weekend and one was taken to a hospital in Memphis.
On Saturday, the Clarksdale Police Department released the names and ages of four people – all under the age of 22 – it said were charged with aggravated assault in connection to the shooting. Then on Monday the city said those people had been released for lack of evidence and authorities are continuing their investigation.
Anyone with details about Friday’s shooting is urged to contact the Clarksdale Police Department at 662-621-8151. All calls are confidential.
No motive or what might have provoked the shooting were given in a statement issued by police. It is not known if the shooter or shooters had a target or were just spraying the crowd. It is also not known if there were shots fired in defense.
“Officers were on John Lee Hooker Drive when shots were fired during the football after party,” a Clarksdale Police Department press release said. “Three people were shot and suffered non-life threatening injuries.”
A DJ was performing and was scheduled to play until 2 a.m. at the Downtown Stage when the shots rang out at about 12:10 a.m. Saturday and the crowd dispersed.
Facebook has been flooded with video of the event as the music was playing and people swayed to the beat.
Police said they had 13 officers working the football game at the school and downtown.
Aggravated assault is defined as injury or threat to a person to make them fear for their life or assault with a weapon. It is punishable by up to 20-years in prison and a $10,000 fine. An adult who assaults a juvenile can find the penalty enhanced to 30-years in prison.
Attempted murder is just that, an attempt to murder somebody. This charge is reserved for people who unsuccessfully try to kill another person. Motive is a key factor in leveling this charge at someone.
Attempted murder carries a minimum 20-year sentence in Mississippi and can result in a life sentence.
It is not known if the shooting was gang related. Gang shootings of someone in another gang can be prosecuted at hate crimes. Hate crimes carry enhanced sentences upon conviction.
Anyone with video of the incident is urged to contact police immediately. Anyone with video is also urged to save it, as a reward for information leading to the arrest of those who did the shooting may be offered in the future.
