By Lonnie Ross
Jackson Police Department (JPD) increased their police presence Wednesday, November 20, after they were called in to stop a series of fights at Murrah High School in Jackson.
The school was placed on lockdown. Parents were eventually contacted and told to pickup their children. Several parents of students reported that they received a recorded message stating more security officers were being called in to handle the fights, that were escalating.
Some students posted images, video and messages on social media sites showing various clashes and chaos. An actual fight schedule with names of students fighting each other and the location and time the fights were to occur was also shared. On the list, there was an indication that a “shoot out” would take place in front of the school.
Jackson police officers spent most of Wednesday patrolling the outside campus. Students reported that fights were occurring on a daily basis, often multiple fights each day.
Several JPS central office administrators rushed to the school along with members of the district campus police. JPS has its own police force.
School district superintendent Dr. Cedrick Gray is scheduled to hold a news conference Thursday evening.
Former Managing Editor of The Mississippi Link and current Hinds County Sheriff’s Department spokesman, Othor Cain posted on his Facebook page about the incident on Wednesday afternoon:
“The situation at Murrah is under control. Officials and the Jackson Police Department are on the scene and recognize the seriousness of this situation, especially this so-called ‘shootout,’ ”. That did not happen.
