JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – A 5-year-old boy and his mother, grandmother and aunt were all shot to death at their home in eastern Mississippi, authorities said Tuesday.
The bodies were found in the community of Toomsuba, near the Alabama state line, and investigators are pursuing “numerous leads,” Lauderdale County Chief Sheriff’s Deputy Ward Calhoun told The Associated Press.
Calhoun said deputies are questioning people, but have no suspects yet. Officials believe the killings took place sometime Monday night. They didn’t find any signs of forced entry.
“We’re leaning more toward somebody who knows the family or is known by the family,” the deputy noted, saying a random killing appeared unlikely.
The slain were identified as 65-year-old Edna Durr, her daughters Tomecca Pickett, 42, and Kiearra Durr, 27. Also killed was Pickett’s 5-year-old son, Owen Pickett. Ward said Kierra Durr’s 3-year-old daughter was not shot and survived.