Six Killed in Mississippi Mass Shooting, Suspect Arrested | Quick Digest
Six people were killed in a mass shooting across multiple locations in Arkabutla, Tate County, Mississippi, in February 2023. The suspect, Richard Dale Crum, was arrested shortly after the rampage. The incident drew widespread attention as authorities investigated the motive behind the violence.
Six fatalities confirmed in multiple shooting locations in Arkabutla.
Richard Dale Crum, 52, identified and arrested as the lone suspect.
Shootings occurred in February 2023 across Tate County, Mississippi.
Victims included the suspect's ex-wife and stepfather, among others.
Investigation ongoing into the motive; suspect later deemed incompetent for trial.
A mass shooting incident rocked the small, rural community of Arkabutla in Tate County, Mississippi, on February 17, 2023, resulting in the deaths of six people. The tragic events unfolded across multiple locations, including a convenience store and several residences. The suspect, identified as 52-year-old Richard Dale Crum of Coldwater, was apprehended and taken into custody by authorities following the rampage. He was initially charged with capital murder for one victim, with additional charges expected for the other fatalities.
Details revealed that Crum allegedly began his shooting spree at an Express Mart convenience store, killing a man in his vehicle. He then proceeded to the home of his ex-wife, Debra Crum, fatally shooting her and injuring another man present. Further victims included his stepfather, George McCain, and his stepfather's sister, Lynda McCain, found dead in a neighboring home. Two handymen, Charles Manuel and John Rorie, were also found shot to death on a road behind Crum's residence. The Tate County Sheriff's Office, along with the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, led the inquiry into the horrific incident, though a definitive motive for the shootings remained unknown at the time. In a subsequent development in October 2025, Crum was deemed incompetent to stand trial and ordered to a mental health facility for evaluation and treatment.
This incident highlighted the ongoing issue of gun violence in the United States and was widely reported by national and international news outlets. The NDTV article accurately reported the core facts of this event. It's important to note that a separate, similarly reported incident also occurred recently in Clay County, Mississippi, on January 10, 2026, also resulting in six fatalities and an arrest. However, the article being verified here, and its related sources, clearly pertain to the February 2023 Arkabutla shooting.
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