Selma Mayor Johnny Moss III recently announced a multi-agency partnership following a series of shooting deaths, including a two-year-old child.
According to the Selma Police, the child was struck by outside gunfire on Wednesday morning while inside a trailer in the Selmont community. The shooter or shooters fired into the home at approximately 3 a.m. No suspects have been announced, and no arrests have been made.
The investigation is under the purview of interim Selma Police Chief Michael Perry, who took over after former chief Kenta Fulford stepped down for conduct officials described as “detrimental to good order or discipline" and “habitual neglect of duty.”
On Thursday morning, Moss made a public statement decrying the shooting and announcing that local, state and federal law enforcement were involved in the investigations.
“Over the last couple of weeks, our community has suffered heartbreaking loss due to gun violence,” Moss said. “We have now lost three lives, including the tragic death of a 2-year-old child the night before last. Enough is enough. These shootings must stop.”
He continued, “[T]he City of Selma is actively working with local, state, and federal partners as part of a multi-agency effort to investigate these violent crimes and aggressively pursue those responsible. Let me be clear: we will not allow reckless individuals to terrorize our community and endanger innocent lives. Those responsible will be pursued, arrested, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
The mayor also called on community leaders and members to cooperate with police, stating that enforcement of the law was insufficient to stop the gun violence alone.
“We need parents, families, churches, schools, community leaders, and citizens to stand together, cooperate with law enforcement, and reject the violence harming our city and our children,” Moss concluded. “Please continue praying for the families affected and for the City of Selma. Our children deserve safety, and this violence must end.”
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