Memphis Shooting: 4 people killed, 3 injured after man goes on shooting spree across city

 A shooting spree across Memphis and the Mid-South Wednesday evening left four people dead and three others injured.

The suspect responsible for causing fear and terror across the area is now in custody, according to the Memphis Police Department (MPD).

Memphis Police Chief CJ Davis and other officials spoke Thursday morning about the detailed events of Wednesday night.

Chief Davis told reporters that the suspect, Ezekiel Kelly, 19, caused at least eight crime scenes during the rampage.

Local media is reporting that Ezekiel Kelly, the #Memphis gunman, pretended to need help before shooting the woman who tried to help him. Her condition is unknown. pic.twitter.com/aEoJwWab6V

— Andy Ngô 🏳️‍🌈 (@MrAndyNgo) September 8, 2022

Charges are pending against Kelly and are currently unknown at this time.

At least two shootings were reported in Memphis as of 7 p.m.: a deadly shooting at a BP gas station on S. Parkway and a woman who was critically injured after being shot on Norris Road near I-240.

The victim at the gas station was shot around 4:35 p.m., just before the woman was shot.

MPD said another victim was shot on Lyndale Avenue just before 1 a.m.

“People are frightened,” said @SteveMulroy901. “People are angry.” @FOX13Memphis pic.twitter.com/J6Lv9Umvat

— Kate Bieri (@KateBieri) September 8, 2022

MPD tweeted around 7 p.m. alerting the public.

The suspect was allegedly driving a blue or silver Infiniti car and recording himself shooting people on Facebook live, police said.

MPD said the Infiniti had a red dealer tag and a rear window busted out.

Officials later said the suspect was believed to be in a grey Toyota SUV with an Arkansas tag.

Court records show that 19-year-old Ezekiel Kelly was charged with first-degree attempted murder due to an incident on February 3, 2020. He was also charged with aggravated assault, employment of a firearm with intent to commit a dangerous felony and reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon.

The suspect is a 19-year-old male Black driving a light blue Infiniti. pic.twitter.com/PkblUXJu8v

— Memphis Police Dept (@MEM_PoliceDept) September 8, 2022

Just before 8 p.m., the City of Memphis issued a statement: “If you do not need to be out, please stay home!” the City tweeted.

MPD urged everyone to stay indoors.

The suspect claimed to have shot five people in a Facebook Live video seen by FOX13.

In that video, the man appears to walk into an AutoZone store, aim a gun at a man and pull the trigger.

MPD confirmed that Kelly was connected to a shooting Wednesday afternoon at an AutoZone on Jackson near Wells.

@uofmemphis campus is currently on LOCKDOWN. This is the alert sent to students/staff tonight. @FOX13Memphis pic.twitter.com/V1LNAnv96V

— Kayla Solomon (@KSolomonReports) September 8, 2022

The University of Memphis was put on lockdown after shots were fired in the area of Patterson and Southern. The school sent out a safety alert, and said all doors at the UofM had been locked for general safety.

Around 8:30 p.m., MATA trolley and bus services were halted indefinitely out of an abundance of caution.

“In lieu of the current danger announced by the Memphis Police Department regarding an active shooter in the Memphis area. MATA’s trolley and bus services are being suspended indefinitely. MATA leaders are acting in an abundance of caution and care for the safety of its drivers and riders,” a press release from MATA said.

MATA later resumed services for one final run after Kelly was captured.

The Delta Fair was placed on lockdown due to the shooting spree, the fair’s public information officer told FOX13.

This is the guy shooting random people in Memphis… shot people in an Autozone randomly and other places… please stay alert… https://t.co/pXTrkSonF6

— The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) September 8, 2022

The fair was reopened a short time later with Shelby County Sheriff’s deputies on the scene, and people were allowed to leave.

According to the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office, Kelly was spotted near the area of I-55 and Stateline Road but was back in Memphis as of 9:05 p.m.

MPD said that everybody in the area of Whitehaven, especially at Ivan Road and Hodge Road, should shelter in place and stay indoors.

Around 9:30 p.m., the shelter-in-place order for Memphis was lifted after Kelly was caught.

The DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Kelly was taken into custody and arrested after wrecking near Ivan Road and Hodges Road.

Officials said Kelly carjacked a Dodge Challenger in Southaven and had been trapped in the car.

Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the scene.

Kelly is currently facing one count of first-degree murder but more charges are expected.

One of the victims who survived is at Regional One in critical condition. Two others are in non-critical condition.

Records show Kelly is scheduled to appear in court Friday morning at 9 a.m.

Source Link