The Kosciusko Police Department is seeking information following a shooting at the Hickory Hills apartments on Highway 12 Friday night.
More than 70 rounds were fired from five different weapons inside and outside unit E1 of the apartment complex just before midnight Friday night, injuring three people, according to Police Chief Herbert Dew.
“There were rounds fired — approximately 20 — on the inside of the apartment and approximately 50 rounds fired from the outside in,” Dew said. He said at least 16 rounds pierce the front door of the apartment, with another 45-50 rounds going in the backside door area.
The chief said witnesses describe a silver Dodge Charger as being involved, but there is no information on how many individuals may have been in that vehicle. Dew said there is video from along Highway 12 of a similar vehicle, but it is unconfirmed if that is suspect vehicle.
A 34-year-old, who was shot in the lower left leg, was treated and released from University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC). The second male victim, a 20-year-old shot in the upper left leg, was treated and released from Baptist-Attala.
The third victim, 47-year-old woman who was in an apartment several doors down, was shot in the abdomen. As of late Tuesday, Dew said, the woman — who did not appear to have any involvement in the incident — remained a UMMC patient under treatment for her injuries.
Dew said investigators believe the shooting started inside unit 1E, with at least one of the victims saying he fired a weapon in the incident. In all, three apartments received gunfire.
The chief said investigators had to work fast processing the external scene Friday night due to the strong winds and approaching rain before they moved inside. The lessee of the apartment, the girlfriend of one of the victims, was upstairs in the apartment at the time of the incident and was uninjured.
“Based on the shell casings recovered, we know there were at least different five weapons fired — two handguns inside and at least two different handguns on the outside, as well as two assault-style rifles on the outside,” said Dew.
Dew said 9mm, 40-caliber, and 5.7 caliber handguns were recovered, as were shell casings consistent with both AR-style and AK-47-style assault rifles.
Asked if gang violence may be responsible for the incident, Dew said that remains under investigation.
“It is possible. We have no reason to believe that, but we’re not ruling it out,” he said. “We have no reason to believe it was anyone local who did the shooting.”
Dew said he is surprised all of the victims survived.
“When I say that this apartment looked like Swiss cheese, I mean that,” he said. “This is the best case of someone trying to kill someone that didn’t work out, because looking at the aftermath, there is not a whole lot of reason for anybody to have survived that.”
The KPD is asking that anyone with information call Central Mississippi Crime Stoppers at 662-355-8577 or the department at 662-289-3131. Anyone with information that leads to an arrest can receive an reward up to $2,500. All information is 100% confidential.
