On February 17, 2023, at approximately 11:00 a.m., the small, unincorporated community of Arkabutla, Mississippi was devastated by violence at the hands of a lone gunman, Richard Crum. The 52-year-old was arrested and charged for the murders of six people, including his ex-wife and stepfather (USA Today).
Armed with a shotgun and two handguns, the perpetrator shot the first victim at an Express Mart before moving on to his ex-wife’s home a few miles away, where she was slain and her current husband was injured. Four more victims were discovered at a third crime scene–a home where the shooter’s stepfather and sister of the stepfather were among the victims (WMC). The motive behind the shooting spree is unknown, but an individual familiar with the shooter shared with a news outlet that Crum had a history of mental illness (WTVR).
Date of event: February 17, 2023
Impact:
- 6 people killed
Related Resources:
- Contemporary Issues in Gun Policy: Essays from the RAND Gun Policy in America Project
- Preventing Gun Violence
- Mass Shootings, Mental “Illness,” and Tarasoff
HSDL Featured Topic: Active Shooters
HSDL Search: Mass Shooting | Active Shooter | Gun Violence
-
- Photo Credit: FOX News