‘Random’ shootings along Mississippi Highway trigger travel warning, sheriff says | News

COAHOMA COUNTY, Mississippi – In a community known for the Delta Blues, many are now worried about their safety.

“The world is messed up. You have to stay out of it, keep your head down and play slow,” said Jayonta Horton of Clarksdale.

The Coahoma County Sheriff’s Office issued a travel advisory for the Friars Point area Wednesday evening.

It states that between 8 p.m. and the early hours of the morning, there were several random shootings in the Highway 1 area and at all entrances to Friars Point.

The sheriff’s office is now asking people to avoid the area.

“It’s not a good thing. Unfortunately, I have to say it doesn’t surprise me. There are a lot of gang things that happen,” said Alec Byrd of Clarksdale.

Byrd knows someone who was shot.

“The shooters came and I’m not sure what happened in the altercation, but they fired at his vehicle and one bullet hit him,” he said.

Byrd said the victim worked as a farm manager and had traveled from Arkansas to the Friars Point area for work. He said the man was in critical condition.

“We’re really just praying for him and trying to reflect on the whole situation as best we can,” he said.

Byrd has the following message for the responsible shooters.

“Please just stop. There is no point in all this. We would really like to have a safe community and not have to worry about these things,” he said.

If you know anything about this shooting, or if you or someone you know has been a victim, the Sheriff’s Office asks you to call them.

No information on suspects has been released.