Mass shooting victims now numbered at eleven, four people are persons of interest

During a Tuesday evening press conference at the Jasper County Sheriff's Department, Sheriff Mitchel Newman revealed that the number of shooting victims now stands at eleven, and Laronia Gray of the District Attorney's Office says that eight are now at home recovering, while three remain hospitalized. The sheriff explained that the number increased from nine to eleven because investigators learned about two more victims who were later taken to the hospital. Newman also said that although no arrests have yet been made, the department has identified four persons of interest in the case, and they are also trying to establish a motive for the crime. District Attorney Anne Pickle added that she expects an arrest warrant, or multiple arrests to soon be issued. Also during the press conference, Sheriff Newman made a plea for any of the approximately 250 teenagers who were at the party to provide to investigators all photos or videos that were taken at the gathering. Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Karli Cherry answered questions about a different shots fired incident which occurred in Jasper shortly after the mass shooting. She said that it is now believed that vehicles involved in that incident were present at the after-prom party. The shooting occurred shortly after midnight on Sunday, April 23rd at a residence on County Road 263, just north of Jasper. The teenagers had reportedly left the Jasper High School Prom to attend this private gathering. Shortly after the mass shooting, Jasper Police responded to a report of shots fired in the area of Bevil Loop and Valley Drive in Southeast Jasper. Police say in that incident, people in at least two vehicles were shooting at each other. The next morning it was discovered that bullets had struck vehicles and houses, but fortunately no one was hit.