Shooting Spree Leaves 4 Dead In Memphis, Suspect In Police Custody

Tennessee’s second-largest city, Memphis, witnessed an effective shutdown after a string of shootings that left four people dead and three others injured. This comes as the University of Memphis had recently been shaken by the abduction and killing of a woman jogging near the campus.

Reports alleged the shooting started as early as 12:56 pm [17:56 GMT] and continued till late evening. 

According to the Police, there were at least eight crime scenes, seven shootings, and the carjacking of a Dodge Challenger in Southaven, south of Memphis. The suspect, Ezekiel D Kelly, who broadcasted his actions on Facebook Live, was arrested when he crashed amid a chase. 

A brief clip on Facebook showed Kelly saying: “This is for real,” as he opened the door of an AutoZone store, shooting twice at the first person in view. 

“This is no way for us to live, and it is not acceptable. The people of our city were confronted with the type of violence no one should have to face,” Mayor Jim Strickland [pictured below] said at a news conference. He condemned what he called a senseless murder rampage and admitted to being angry for citizens who had to shelter in place until the suspect was caught.

When the search launched, the City of Memphis had written on Twitter: “If you do not need to be out, please stay home! 

Chief Cerelyn (C.J.) Davis [pictured above] of the Memphis Police Department said at the conference that Kelly’s crimes included shooting a man, 24, in his driveway in the 3100 block of Lyndale Avenue. Another on East Parkway south left a man dead after being shot inside his car, and third, a woman was shot in the leg on Norris Road near the southbound ramp to Interstate 240 and rushed to a hospital. 

However, Kelly is set to face felony charges and has been transported to jail to be formally booked.