A man suspected of firing a gun during Mississippi Mudbug Festival was shot and killed by a law enforcement officer last night (April 30), the Associated Press reports. The second annual music event was held at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds in Jackson. Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones told AP that two or three people had exchanged gunfire around 10 p.m. on Saturday in and around a vehicle on the fairgrounds parking lot. The festival was scheduled to continue tonight, however it has been canceled in light of Saturday’s incident. The Mississippi State Fairgrounds announced the cancellation in a statement on their website.
Jones told AP that several people were transported to local hospitals with unknown injuries following the gunfire. He added that an “officer-involved shooting investigation is underway stemming from this incident,” and that the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation was called in to assist. Jones also told AP that two juveniles have been detained for questioning, and that authorities recovered a car, two rifles, and a pistol from the scene. Jones added:
Last night’s headliner was Blue Öyster Cult. When reached for comment, a representative for the band confirmed to Pitchfork that “everyone is fine.”
Pitchfork has reached out to the Hinds County Sheriff’s Department, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, and Mudbug Festival organizer Ardenland for further information and comment.
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