4 Killed In Memphis Shooting Spree That Was Broadcast On Facebook
Four people were killed and three others injured during an hours-long shooting spree in Memphis on Wednesday, part of which was livestreamed on Facebook, police said.
Officials said a suspect terrorized the city for hours on Wednesday evening, shooting victims at multiple crime locations. There were at least seven shootings and a carjacking.
Police arrested Ezekiel Kelly, 19, at 9:28 p.m. local time.
*****UPDATE 9:28 PM******
SUSPECT IS IN CUSTODY
Ezekiel D. Kelly
Please follow our social media platforms for updates.
Please avoid the area of Ivan Road & Hodge Road— Memphis Police Dept (@MEM_PoliceDept) September 8, 2022
Memphis police director CJ Davis said the suspect had carried out a “sequence of violent acts” beginning just before 1 a.m. Wednesday morning until his arrest that night.
“I want to reassure the community that 19-year-old Ezekiel Kelly is in custody,” Davis said early Thursday morning. “This has been a horrific week for the city of Memphis, and the Memphis Police Department.”
A heartbreaking update: Right now there are 3 confirmed deaths from this shooting rampage. Memphis Police say Ezekiel Kelly shot at least 6 people in this “senseless” and “terrible” act of violence 💔 @3onyoursidepic.twitter.com/lt02cyLNqo
— Shay Simon🎈 (@ShaySimonTV) September 8, 2022
The Memphis Police Department initially alerted the public of the shootings on social media Wednesday afternoon, noting that the gunman was driving a light blue Infiniti. Later, the department said he had switched to a gray Toyota SUV with Arkansas license plates. At that time, police called the gunman “armed and dangerous” and said he was responsible for multiple shootings.
The gunman reportedly feigned needing help after crashing his vehicle. He then allegedly carjacked the vehicle of a woman who stopped to help him.
“I understand it feels like so much violence and evil to experience in such a short time,” Chase Carlisle, a member of the Memphis City Council, wrote on Twitter. “We are SO much more than this.”
Memphis police investigate the scene of a carjacking reportedly connected to a series of shootings Wednesday. A 19-year-old man was arrested in connection with the shootings across the city. (Photo: Brad Vest via Getty Images)
The suspect reportedly livestreamed some of the shootings on Facebook.
“We are getting reports that he is recording his actions on Facebook,” the Memphis Police Department wrote on social media before his capture.
According to court records on Kelly obtained by The Associated Press, he was previously charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault, using a firearm to commit a dangerous felony and reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon.
At the time of his arrest, Kelly had a warrant out for his arrest, WMC Action News 5 reported.
Reports of the shootings prompted lockdowns across the city. The Delta Fair temporarily shut down and local trolley and bus services were closed. The University of Memphis issued a safety alert, although official later said there was no immediate threat to the campus.
A Memphis Redbirds game at the AutoZone Park was also evacuated during the shootings.
If you do not need to be out, please stay home!
— City of Memphis (@CityOfMemphis) September 8, 2022
Carla Russo contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.
