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Today in History: Police fire kills two, injures twelve at Jackson

5/15/2026

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Summary

Story summary

On May 15 1970, city and state police fired into a crowd of students outside a dormitory at Jackson State College in Mississippi, killing two and wounding twelve. The midnight shooting followed a night-long standoff and came just eleven days after the Kent State massacre, intensifying national outrage over campus violence during Vietnam-war protests.

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Story summary

On May 15 1970, city and state police fired into a crowd of students outside a dormitory at Jackson State College in Mississippi, killing two and wounding twelve. The midnight shooting followed a night-long standoff and came just eleven days after the Kent State massacre, intensifying national outrage over campus violence during Vietnam-war protests.