Police in Memphis, Tennessee, reported that a guy who went on a three-hour shooting rampage through the city of Memphis, Tennessee, killing four people in the process, has been taken into custody.
Around 9 p.m., Ezekiel Kelly, 19, who had been charged with attempted first-degree murder as an adult in 2020, was arrested. Kelly was detained in Whitehaven, a Memphis area, according to police spokesperson Karen Rudolph.
During a news conference early Thursday, Memphis Police Director Cerelyn “CJ” Davis said that charges were pending.
According to Davis, seven shootings across Memphis resulted in the deaths of four people and three additional injuries. The shooting began at 12:56 a.m. on Wednesday and lasted until around 8:30 p.m.
In Southaven, Mississippi, a Dodge Challenger was stolen, and Davis estimated that there were at least eight crime scenes totalling seven shootings. Following the carjacking near Southaven, south of Memphis, Kelly was arrested when he crashed during a high-speed chase.
About two hours before, authorities had issued a warning claiming that a man operating a light blue Infiniti was responsible for several shootings in the area. Police said that after stealing the Dodge Challenger in Southaven, he later killed a woman in Memphis and stole her grey Toyota SUV. Police claimed that he posted videos of his conduct on Facebook.
There was a delay in public transportation while the shooter terrified Memphis. In addition, a downtown stadium was on lockdown during an ongoing baseball game. Friends and family members quickly texted and called to inquire about one another’s well-being. At the same time, TV networks interrupt normal coverage to notify viewers.
The University of Memphis sent a message to students saying a shooting had been reported near the campus. Rhodes College, which is about 4 miles away from the university, advised students on and off campus to shelter in place.
Students at the University of Memphis received messages informing them of a shooting close to the school. Moreover, Rhodes College, located around 4 miles from the institution, instructed students to seek shelter if located on or off campus.
Rhodes College and the University of Memphis are both 12 miles from the place where Kelly was detained.
Police did not disclose the identity of those killed or hurt, nor did they address a possible motivation. According to Ali Roberts, acting assistant special agent in charge of the Memphis office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, it was too early in the investigation to talk about how the suspect obtained the pistol or guns in the shootings.
Presented by CTC News