Two people were killed and several others were hospitalized after gunfire erupted inside The Hideaway nightclub in Jackson, Mississippi, in the early hours of Sunday morning. Police say two masked men walked into the club shortly before shots rang out, and no arrests had been made as the investigation continued into the weekend.
The shooting happened around 1 a.m. at the club in the 5100 block of Interstate 55 North Frontage Road, according to WJTV. Police said two unidentified male suspects wearing ski masks entered the nightclub shortly before the gunfire began, and at least one of them opened fire on the crowd inside, the station reported. Both WLBT and WTVY reported that six others were injured.
Police identified the two people killed as a 20-year-old and an 18-year-old, though the spelling of the male victim's first name has varied between reports — WLBT listed him as Lovdai Poindexter, while WJTV listed him as Lovdia Poindexter. Both outlets identified the 18-year-old victim as Jada Henderson. WLBT reported that the six injured victims included four females ages 18, 18, 19 and 20, and two males ages 19 and 20, and that those victims were taken to local hospitals with injuries that appeared to be non-life-threatening.
Investigators Chase Leads as Motive Stays Unclear
Jackson Police Department Deputy Chief Sequerna Banks confirmed officers are investigating the shooting at the nightclub, per WTVY's report. Detectives interviewed witnesses at the scene while evidence technicians recovered and documented multiple shell casings, according to SuperTalk Mississippi. Investigators are also working to pull surveillance footage as they try to identify the two masked suspects, the outlet reported, and the motive for the shooting remains unclear.
As of Sunday afternoon, no arrests had been made in connection with the shooting, WLBT reported. JPD said it would provide updates as new information became available.
Second Deadly Shooting at the Same Club Since May
Jackson Mayor John Horhn called attention to the club's troubled recent history, saying, “This is the second deadly shooting at this location in recent months,” per WLBT's report. In May, 19-year-old Alana Duck of Brandon was killed and two others were injured when a fight in the parking lot outside The Hideaway escalated into gunfire, according to a separate WAPT report. Officers at the time found Duck inside a black Honda Accord with a fatal gunshot wound to the upper body, and the two other people who were shot were taken to local hospitals.
Following Saturday's shooting, Horhn directed the city attorney to explore all available legal options to have the property declared a public nuisance and pursue its closure, WLBT reported. The city has not detailed a timeline for that process.
Jackson State Cancels Classes
The shooting's ripple effects reached Jackson State University, which announced that undergraduate classes would be canceled Monday and Tuesday, November 2 and 3, following the shooting, according to WLBT. Graduate courses were moved to virtual instruction during the same period, the station reported. The university did not specify a connection between its students and the victims in its announcement.
