MERIDIAN, Miss. (Queen City Newsfeed) Two people are dead and a third person is in critical condition after a Meridian apartment shooting Tuesday morning. It happened at St. Francis Apartments on Fourth Avenue.
Four people are being held for questioning. However, police say there is no ongoing threat to the public.
What police say happened
Meridian Police Department Assistant Chief Dareall Thompson spoke with Queen City Newsfeed at the scene. He said police got a call around 9:50 a.m. about shots fired in the 2400 block of Fourth Avenue.
When officers got there, they found three people who had been shot. Two of them died at the scene, police said.
The third victim went to a local hospital in critical condition. After that, the victim was flown to Jackson, according to a statement from the Meridian Police Department.
Officers also chased a person on foot for a short time, Thompson said. Then they took that person into custody.
In all, four people have been detained. Investigators are questioning them to learn what happened, police said.
Officers also found a gun. “We were able to recover a weapon that we do believe was involved in this incident,” Thompson said.
Police have not announced any charges. They also have not released the names of the victims or the people being held.
Police say two died, not three
Some people at the scene said three people died. However, Thompson said that is not true. Two people died, and the third person was air-lifted to Jackson.
Too early to know why
Police do not yet know what led to the shooting. Also, they have not said if the people involved knew each other.
“It’s too early to say what happened,” Thompson said at the scene.
Later Tuesday, the police department released a statement. In it, Thompson offered sympathy to the families.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the families affected by this tragedy. Our investigators are working diligently to establish the facts, and we expect to provide additional information within the next 24 hours,” Thompson said.
The police Criminal Investigation Division is working the case. Meridian Fire Department crews and an ambulance service also came to help at the scene.
What witnesses saw
One witness spoke with Queen City Newsfeed but asked not to be named. The witness said they heard one shot and looked out a window. They saw a woman bent over. She looked like she was trying to duck for cover.
After that, the witness heard three more shots. Those shots hit two other people. Then the shooter ran off, the witness said.
The witness went outside to help. However, two of the victims had no pulse. The witness could not reach the third victim.
The witness also said two of the victims had just gotten home from work.
Another witness at the scene said the shooting was unlike anything they had seen before.
How you can help
Police are asking anyone with information to come forward. You can call the Meridian Police Department at 601-485-1893. You can also call East Mississippi Crime Stoppers at 855-485-8477.
Police expect to share more within the next day. Queen City Newsfeed will update this story as more information comes out.
Editors Note: Story updated to add City of Meridian Press Release Update