Suspect in custody after 6 killed in mass shooting in Arkabutla, MS, in Tate County – National & International News – FRI 17Feb2023

Suspect in custody after mass shooting in Tate County, MS.

Worried residents see cover-up in Ohio train derailment.

NATIONAL NEWS

Suspect in custody after mass shooting in Tate County, MS

Richard Dale Crum, 52, has been identified as the suspect. Crum’s ex-wife was among those killed.

Six people have been fatally shot and another injured by a suspect in Arkabutla, MS, in Tate County, a town of about 300 people. The suspect has been identified as Richard Dale Crum, 52. Crum’s ex-wife is among the slain. Crum is in custody and there are no other suspects at large. Authorities haven’t identified any of the other victims.

The story is developing and details of how the crimes unfolded are still coming to light. Tate County Sheriff Brad Lance said he believes the shooting began in a store where one person was killed. The shooter then  drove to a nearby home where he fatally shot a woman and injured her fiancee. After that, the shooter arrived at a home on Arkabutla Dam Road and shot and killed two people there. Authorities believe that the suspect resided at the Arkabutla Dam Road location.

Following the Arkabutla Dam Road incident, a Tate County deputy spotted a car that fit the suspect’s description. After unsuccessfully attempting to get the driver to stop, the deputy gave chase. 

The shooter then pulled into the driveway of another nearby home where authorities apprehended him. There authorities found the last two victims dead, one in a car and one in the roadway.

This is the second deadly mass shooting in Mississippi this month. On Feb. 12, 5 people were injured and one killed in Louisville, MS, in Winston County. Four teens and one adult are in custody in connection with that incident.

This is the 81st mass shooting this year in the US, just 48 days into 2023. This count includes all incidents in which 4 or more people are killed or injured in a shooting.

Click here for the full story (opens in new tab).

Worried residents see cover-up in Ohio train derailment

Yesterday, Jennifer Homendy, head of the National Transportation Safety Board, posted a series of tweets accusing the media and members of the public of spreading “misinformation” about the Feb. 3 train derailment in East Palestine, OH. Homendy’s lengthy Twitter thread began with “First, a message to the community…then a plea to those spreading misinformation”. 

She continued: “To everyone affected: know that @NTSB is working vigorously to understand what caused this train derailment — so it never happens again”.

“…Anyone speculating about what happened, didn’t happen, or should’ve happened is misleading a suffering community – PLEASE STOP SPREADING MISINFORMATION. For example…

“Some are saying the ECP (electronically controlled pneumatic) brake rule, if implemented, would’ve prevented this derailment. FALSE – here’s why…

“The ECP braking rule would’ve applied ONLY to HIGH HAZARD FLAMMABLE TRAINS. The train that derailed in East Palestine was a MIXED FREIGHT TRAIN containing only 3 placarded Class 3 flammable liquids cars.

“This means even if the rule had gone into effect, this train wouldn’t have had ECP brakes.”

Homendy’s fraught response only begs another obvious question. How or why was this train, carrying 5 cars of vinyl chloride, a highly toxic and flammable material, not classified as a “high hazard flammable train”?

“Don’t ask questions”

Tracey Hoffman, who lives two-tenths of a mile from the derailment, is one of many concerned East Palestine residents. Hoffman has stopped using her tap water due to contamination fears. She’s also joined one of several class action lawsuits against Norfolk Southern, who operated the rerailed train.

Despite assurances from the EPA that the water is safe to drink and that the fumes residents are smelling aren’t dangerous, locals continue to report troublesome symptoms. These include rashes, burning throats and eyes, and diarrhea. Independent analysts have expressed doubt that the the environmental sampling conducted is sufficient to be conclusive about the danger to residents. But when residents seek answers, Hoffman bluntly described the response from authorities: “It’s been, ‘Don’t ask questions'”. 

Charges dropped against arrested reporter

Last week, NewsNation reporter Evan Lambert-McMichael was arrested at a news conference in East Palestine, held by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and other officials to update information on the train derailment. Bodycam footage shows officers approaching Lambert-McMichael and asking him to stop reporting, claiming it was “too loud”. An argument then breaks out, and Ohio National Guard’s adjutant general, Maj. Gen. John Harris, approaches and pushes Lambert-McMichael.

Lambert-McMichael was charged with resisting arrest and criminal trespass. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced Wednesday that those charges would be dropped. Yost wrote, “The reporter was lawfully present at a press conference called by the Governor of the state. His conduct was consistent with the purpose of the event and his role as a reporter.”

Gov. DeWine said of the incident “This reporter who was reporting live from the back of the room never should have been asked to stop, never should have been told to be quiet. That was a big, big mistake. And you know, the person who did that, I’ve explained to them and I’m sure that he’ll never, never do that again”.

Please share any thoughts, comments or questions in the Comments section below!