Videos are surfacing on social media after eight people were taken to the hospital after a shooting Sunday morning occurred in Downtown Memphis, according to police.
The shooting took place about 2:30 a.m, but two hours prior to the shooting video footage shows a group of guys assaulting an officer. The suspect was seen on video squaring up with the officer while the person recording the footage can be heard saying, “knock his a** out, go ahead beat his a**.” After that altercation a shooting happened at S. B.B. King Boulevard and Peabody Place. “It was crazy,” said an eyewitness who works at a nearby bar on Beale Street. “8 to 10 people were trying to jump over our fence and get into our door.”
Another witness said he heard the shots ring out and “can’t fathom the thought of more violence here.” Another witness, Ereale Scott, was asked about how she felt about the ongoing violence in Memphis and she simply responded by saying, “I’m not surprised.” The eight victims were taken to several different hospitals, all in non-critical condition. The victims ages rage from 14-years-old to 54-years-old.
State Senate Minority Leader Raumesh Akbari says these instances are just a few of the reasons the state needs to take a serious look at gun laws in the special session on safety that was called by Governor Lee. “It’s a Democrat and Republican issue,” Akbari said. “Whether you live in Memphis or Mountain View.”
Akbari went on to cite the need for stricter background checks for people who wish to purchase a firearm, as well as training for those who wish to use them. Scott, who told Action News 5 she’s had a permit to carry before the permitless carry went into effect in 2021, says the issue isn’t cut and dry.
“You have people like me who carry to protect themselves,” said Scott. “But open-carry has everyone wanting a gun and then they start shooting everyone. It’s complicated.” The special session is set to start in Nashville on August 21.
State Rep. John Gillespire shared this comment: I am outraged and disgusted at the shameless assault on a member of the Memphis Police Department. Anyone who attacks a police officer should be prosecuted to the highest extent of the law.