Crime
Active Shooter Alert Issued Near Sheppard Elementary School at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls
Sheppard Air Force Base issued a safety alert on Friday after reports of possible gunfire near Sheppard Elementary School in Wichita Falls, Texas, prompting a lockdown and immediate shelter-in-place instructions for personnel and nearby schools.
According to initial statements, base authorities advised all individuals on or near Sheppard Air Force Base to seek shelter while the situation was assessed.
Schools in the surrounding area also initiated lockdown protocols as a precaution.
Wichita Falls ISD later released an update clarifying the status of Sheppard Elementary School.
The district confirmed that the school was placed in Secure status after staff reported hearing sounds resembling gunfire in nearby base housing.
Officials emphasized that, at this time, there is no confirmed active shooter on Sheppard Air Force Base.
Because the school is located within the base perimeter, military security enforced a lockdown while investigations continued.
The district explained the meaning of the current alert level:
Students and staff remain inside the building.
Instruction continues as normal.
All exterior doors remain locked.
Authorities from the base are continuing to investigate the source of the reported noise.
Additional updates will be shared as more information becomes available.
Coffee County, Ala. — A homicide investigation is underway after a fatal shooting at a residence near Kinston on Monday morning, authorities confirmed.
According to Coffee County Sheriff Scott Byrd, deputies responded at approximately 7:51 a.m. to a reported shooting along County Road 483, just off County Road 89 in the Kinston area.
Upon arrival, law enforcement discovered a deceased individual at the scene.
Officials later indicated the shooting stemmed from a domestic dispute between two individuals, though additional details have not yet been released.
Authorities identified the suspect as Joseph Levi Jackson, who was wanted in connection with the shooting death of his father.
Jackson was initially reported to have fled the scene on foot and was considered armed and dangerous.
The search involved multiple agencies, including the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department, Covington County Sheriff’s Office, Geneva County Sheriff’s Office, and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), including troopers and State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) agents.
State tracking dogs were deployed as part of the coordinated search effort, particularly near Hattaway Road and Charolais Road, off Covington County Road 89.
Jackson was last described as wearing a black and red flannel shirt, blue jeans, and a black baseball cap.
Law enforcement urged residents not to approach the suspect and to contact 911 with any information.
Following an intensive search, Sheriff Byrd confirmed that Jackson was located and taken into custody without further incident.
Authorities have not yet announced formal charges but confirmed that the investigation is being led by ALEA.
The suspect’s temporary flight prompted Kinston School to delay its opening on Monday morning. School officials later announced a full closure for the day out of an abundance of caution.
In a statement, school administrators thanked local law enforcement for their swift and professional response, emphasizing that the safety of students, staff, and families remains their top priority.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue processing the scene and gathering additional information.