Local schools went on lockdown while the suspect was being sought. Photo / Getty
Six people were shot dead on Friday (Saturday NZ time) in a small town in rural Mississippi, US near the Tennessee state line, officials said.
Mississippi Department of Public Safety spokesperson Bailey Martin confirmed the killings in Arkabutla, in Tate County, to The Associated Press.
Governor Tate Reeves’ office said he had been briefed on the shootings and a male suspect was in custody.
“At this time, we believe he acted alone,” Reeves said in a statement. “His motive is not yet known.”
Tate County sheriffs dispatcher Shannon Brewer also confirmed that a suspect was in custody.
An elementary school and a high school in nearby Coldwater both went on lockdown while the suspect was being sought, according to the Coldwater Elementary School Facebook page.
A short time later, a second post on the page said the lockdown had been lifted and “all students and staff are safe”.
Arkabutla lies about 50km south of Memphis, Tennessee, and is home to 285 residents, according to the 2020 Census.
Nearby Arkabutla Lake is a reservoir that is a popular fishing and recreational destination. - AP
The keepers found him dead in his enclosure about 11am, at the age of roughly 121.