Jackson, Mississippi: Two Jackson State Students Killed in Nightclub Shooting, Classes Canceled for Two Days

Jackson police are investigating a shooting at a nightclub that killed two Jackson State University students and wounded six other people early on Sunday, November 1. Officers responded at about 1 a.m. to The Hideaway, in the 5100 block of Interstate 55 North Frontage Road, Deputy Chief Sequerna Banks said, according to the Clarion Ledger.

A large crowd of young people was gathered on the dance floor inside the club for a Halloween costume party when the gunfire began, police public information officer Tommie Brown said. Lovdai Poindexter, 20, and Jada Henderson, 18, were pronounced dead at the scene. Both were students at Jackson State, a public historically Black university in Jackson.

Six other people were taken to local hospitals with injuries that appeared to be non-life-threatening, police said. The wounded were four women aged 18, 18, 19 and 20, and two men aged 19 and 20.

Two masked suspects, no arrests yet

Preliminary findings indicate that two unidentified men entered the nightclub wearing ski masks shortly before the gunfire began, Brown said. No arrests had been announced as of Monday morning, and police have not released a motive for the shooting.

Anyone with information about the shooting or the identities of the suspects is asked to contact the Jackson Police Department at 601-960-1800 or Crime Stoppers at 601-355-8477.

University cancels classes and the city suspends the club

Jackson State University canceled undergraduate classes for Monday, November 2, and Tuesday, November 3, after the two students were identified as victims of the off-campus shooting. Graduate courses moved to virtual instruction, while students with internships, externships and clinical duties were still expected to meet them, according to the university announcement. University President Denise Jones Gregory sent an email to students on Sunday expressing condolences and offering support, the Clarion Ledger reported.

Jackson Mayor John Horhn released a statement on Sunday, November 1, saying operations at The Hideaway are suspended while the investigation continues. It was the second fatal shooting at the club in recent months. Alana Duck, 19, died on May 17 after she was shot in the upper body when gunfire broke out at the same nightclub, according to earlier Clarion Ledger reporting.

One scene in a violent Halloween weekend

The Jackson shooting was one of many across the country over Halloween weekend. USA Today counted at least 15 people killed and dozens injured in shootings in 11 states, including incidents in Dallas, where large crowds had gathered for holiday events. The roundup listed the Hideaway shooting among the Mississippi incidents, citing Jackson police and local television station WJTV.