At Least 9 Dead More Than 20 Injured Across Mississippi After Weekend Shootings | Crime Alert 6AM 10.13,25

Summary

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Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Episode: At Least 9 Dead, More Than 20 Injured Across Mississippi After Weekend Shootings | Crime Alert 6AM 10.13.25
Date: October 13, 2025
Host: Nancy Grace (A)
Reporter: Nicole Parton (B)
Additional Voices: Kamisha Hopkins (C), Mark Sanchez (E)

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Episode Overview

This episode centers on a devastating weekend of violence across Mississippi, where a series of shootings during homecoming celebrations left at least nine people dead and over twenty injured. Nancy Grace and her correspondents report breaking details, describe the harrowing aftermath, and discuss ongoing investigations as community leaders, witnesses, and officials respond. The episode also updates listeners on the legal troubles of former NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez following a violent altercation in Indianapolis.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Mississippi Homecoming Shootings – Widespread Tragedy

[00:06 – 03:20]

• Leland Shooting:

  • After a high school football homecoming game in the Delta region, chaos erupted, resulting in six deaths (four at the scene, two at the hospital) and about 20 injuries.
  • The community, under 4,000 in population, shifted from festive to frantic, with family members seeking answers outside City Hall (B: [00:06]).
  • Critical Condition: Four of the injured were airlifted to Jackson. "The deaths kept coming in," said Washington County Coroner Lakeisha Watkins.
  • Atmosphere: State Senator Derek Simmons described it as “just senseless gun violence,” and attributed it largely to “an overwhelming precedence of firearms.”
  • As of Sunday morning, no suspects were in custody.

• Eyewitness Account:

  • Kamisha Hopkins delivers an emotional recounting:

    "There were bodies. There were people standing around. There were blood coming from people's rears and back, side, arm, head. And when you get out, it was like. It was like Beirut. It was the most horrific scene I've ever seen."
    — Kamisha Hopkins ([02:07])

  • She laments the lack of security and immediate response:

    "Leland failed Leland yesterday."
    — Kamisha Hopkins ([02:33])

• Other Shootings:

  • Alcorn State University: One killed, three shot at the HBCU during homecoming; no arrests made (B: [02:37]).
  • Heidelberg: Two dead at a homecoming event on a school campus; an 18-year-old man sought for questioning (B: [03:20]).
  • Law enforcement called for community assistance in both incidents.

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2. Legal Update: Mark Sanchez Stabbing Incident

[04:28 – 07:43]

• Incident Recap:

  • Mark Sanchez, former NFL quarterback and current sports broadcaster, was released from the hospital and taken into custody on felony battery and multiple misdemeanor charges following an October 4th stabbing in Indianapolis (B: [04:28]).
  • The altercation allegedly started over a parking dispute with 69-year-old truck driver Perry Toll.

• Sanchez’s Statement:

  • Outside the hospital, Mark Sanchez publicly thanks his caregivers:

    "Right now I'm just focused on my recovery and I just wanted to thank the first responders... Dr. Mossler, the surgeon. She saved my life so I'm, I'm grateful for that."
    — Mark Sanchez ([05:37])

• Police Response:

  • Indianapolis Police Chief Chris Bailey emphasizes a zero-tolerance stance:

    "I don't care who you are or what your profession is, if you come into our city and commit acts of violence, we will utilize every resource available to hold you accountable." ([06:15])

• Details from Court and Family:

  • Allegations indicate that Sanchez, possibly intoxicated, entered Toll’s truck, leading to the confrontation. Perry Toll claims self-defense.
  • Sanchez’s family:

    "We are incredibly distressed for all parties involved. Mark and our family are sincerely thankful for the love, concern and support we've received the past few days." ([07:40])

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Leland’s aftermath:

  "It was like Beirut. It was the most horrific scene I've ever seen. We're full of emotions right now. We're trying to engage, we're trying to comfort people."
  — Kamisha Hopkins (Eyewitness, [02:09])

• On community failure:

  "The lack of security, the lack of officers, the lack of help. Leland failed Leland yesterday."
  — Kamisha Hopkins ([02:33])

• Police Chief on accountability:

  "If you come into our city and commit acts of violence, we will utilize every resource available to hold you accountable."
  — Police Chief Chris Bailey ([06:15])

• Sanchez on survival:

  "Dr. Mossler, the surgeon. She saved my life so I'm, I'm grateful for that."
  — Mark Sanchez ([05:41])

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Mississippi Shootings Overview: [00:06 – 03:20]
• Eyewitness Account (Kamisha Hopkins): [02:07 – 02:37]
• Mark Sanchez Case Update: [04:28 – 07:43]
• Sanchez’s Public Statement: [05:37 – 06:13]
• Police Chief Press Statement: [06:15]

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Conclusion

This Crime Alert episode delivers a stark look at a weekend of shocking violence in Mississippi, highlighting the toll on small communities and the urgent questions about public safety and justice. It also tracks the fallout from a high-profile stabbing in Indianapolis involving a former NFL star, underlining Nancy Grace’s commitment to tough questions and relentless coverage of headline crime stories.

For ongoing developments, listeners are directed to visit crimeonline.com.

Transcript

[A]

Crime Alert. I'm Nancy Grace. Breaking crime news now straight out to Nicole Parton for the latest.

[B]

Homecoming festivals in Mississippi turned tragic as gun violence erupted on both sides of the state, resulting in at least nine deaths and over 20 people injured over the weekend. In Leland, six people lost their lives following a high school football homecoming game in the Mississippi Delta region, this as confirmed by the county coroner. A separate incident at Alcorn State University, located south of Leland, claimed one victim while a pregnant woman was among the deceased in a shooting on the state's eastern side, according to Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves. In Leland, four victims died at the scene and two others died at the hospital following their injuries, Washington County Coroner Lakeisha Watkins reported. The deaths kept coming in, she said. Approximately 20 others sustained injuries during the chaos that ensued when crowds gathered downtown post game, with four of those injured listed in critical condition and airlifted to a larger medical facility in Jackson, as stated by state Senator Derek Simmons. As investigators worked the scene on Saturday, remnants of yellow crime scene tape were visible around the downtown area and in front of a vacant storefront. Family members congregated near City hall, seeking answers while the media was kept outside. Simmons described the atmosphere in Leland, a town of a population under 4,000, as initially festive before violence erupted. He noted the chaotic aftermath, with emergency responders arriving from various locations. It's just senseless gun violence, simmons said, attributing the surge in incidents to an overwhelming precedence of firearms. As of Sunday morning, there were no arrests made and Simmons had not received any updates regarding suspects. Witness Kamisha Hopkins recounted the horrific scene, detailing the sight of injured people, four bodies on the ground.

[C]

There were bodies. There were people standing around. There were blood coming from people's rears and back, side, arm, head. And when you get out, it was like. It was like Beirut. It was the most horrific scene I've ever seen. We're full of emotions right now. We're trying to engage, we're trying to comfort people. We're trying to see who needs help. The lack of security, the lack of officers, the lack of help. Leland failed Leland yesterday in a separate.

[B]

Incident, one person was killed during a shooting at Alcorn State University around 6:30 on Saturday, with investigators reporting that three people were shot there. The violence occurred during homecoming week at the small, historically black university, which has an enrollment of about 3,000 students. No arrests have been made in this case as of Saturday night. Meanwhile, in Heidelberg, another shooting during a community's homecoming weekend left two people dead on the school campus, according to Police Chief Cornell White who withheld further details about the victims. Authorities are seeking an 18 year old man in questioning for that shooting and the community is urged to provide any relevant information to law enforcement.

[A]

Nicole, thank you. More crime and justice news after this.

[D]

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[B]

In other news, Mark Sanchez has been released from the hospital and subsequently taken into custody following a stabbing incident that occurred on October 4th in Indianapolis. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department confirmed that the 38 year old former NFL quarterback was processed and booked into jail on the morning of Sunday, October 12th. Local news affiliate Fox59 reported that Sanchez, who now works as a broadcaster for Fox Sports, was admitted to the Marion County Jail. Sanchez is facing one felony charge for battery resulting in serious bodily injury, along with three misdemeanor charges, battery resulting in bodily injury, unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle and public intoxication posing a danger to others. Fox59's Max Lewis shared on X that Sanchez was booked into jail for the purpose of being being fingerprinted and photographed as mandated by the judge prior to his departure from Indiana. A video obtained by Lewis shows Sanchez leaving the facility where he expressed at this moment I'm focused on my recovery.

[E]

Right now I'm just focused on my recovery and I just wanted to thank the first responders. Eskenazi Hospital Looks like you're gonna get some. Mary I just want to thank Dr. Mossler, the surgeon. She saved my life so I'm, I'm grateful for that. Sorry I can't answer all your feeling any better.

[B]

Thank you guys.

[E]

Recovering slowly.

[C]

Appreciate it.

[B]

Thank you. Sanchez was in Indianapolis to commentate on a Colts game against the Las Vegas Raiders on October 5th. The night before he reportedly became involved in a confrontation with a 69 year old truck driver, Perry Toll, in the downtown alley, resulting in both people sustaining serious injuries. Initially, Sanchez faced three misdemeanor charges but was arrested at a local hospital where he was receiving treatment for stab wounds. The battery charge was later escalated to a felony. During a press conference on October 6, Indianapolis Police Chief Chris Bailey condemned the violence, saying, I don't care who you are or what your profession is, if you come into our city and commit acts of violence, we will utilize every resource available to hold you accountable. Toll asserted that he acted in self defense when he stabbed Sanchez after the former New York jets quarterback allegedly harassed him over a parking dispute. Court doc documents indicate that Toll informed authorities that Sanchez, who was performing wind sprints in the alley, climbed into his truck and appeared intoxicated, reeking of alcohol and slurring his words. Sanchez's family released a statement to the Indianapolis Star expressing, we are incredibly distressed for all parties involved. Mark and our family are sincerely thankful for the love, concern and support we've received the past few days.

[A]

For the latest crime and justice news, go to crimeonline.com and please join us for our daily podcast, Crime Stories, where we do our best to find missing people, especially children, and help solve unsolved homicides with this crime Alert. I'm Nancy Grace.

[B]

This is an iHeart podcast.