The dangers of being a journalist were exposed in Memphis when an interview about crime reduction efforts was interrupted by a drive-by shooting. Yolanda, a resident of the area, who was being asked about gun crime in the neighborhood, along with the television crew, took cover on the ground as gunshots rang out nearby. Fortunately, no one was hurt in the shooting, which had reportedly targeted an apartment building. Police have yet to make any arrests. After the incident, ABC24 aired the footage and spoke about the risks journalists face in their line of work.
The incident has highlighted the ongoing problem of gun violence in Memphis, a city that has one of the highest rates of firearm homicides in the United States, with more than 300 people killed by guns in 2022 alone. The shooting that interrupted the interview is just one example of how gun crime affects the daily lives of residents in certain neighborhoods. But Yolanda’s conduct during the interview also sheds light on how individuals cope with the constant threat of gun violence around them.
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Despite being caught up in a terrifying situation, she managed to remain calm and even comforted the reporter after the shooting ended. Her actions demonstrate the resilience and strength of those living in areas plagued by gun crime, almost as if they are numb to the shootings at this point.
Memphis, Tennessee is a city with a high crime rate, particularly in terms of violent crime. According to NeighborhoodScout’s analysis of FBI-reported crime data, the chance of becoming a victim of violent crime in Memphis is 1 in 40, while the chance of becoming a victim of property crime is 1 in 18.
Memphis is considered to be one of the top 100 most dangerous cities in the US. The city has one of the highest rates of violent crimes such as rape, murder, armed robbery, and aggravated assault. The high rate of property crimes like burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft, and arson is also a cause for concern. Memphis’s motor vehicle theft rate is one of the highest in the US.
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In addition to the alarming statistics regarding violent and property crimes, Memphis also has a significantly high rate of murder when compared to cities and towns of all sizes.
The University of Memphis Public Safety Institute and the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission rely on data submitted to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Tennessee Incident-Based Reporting System (TIBRS) by individual law enforcement agencies to calculate crime rates. Crime rates are calculated based on the number of crimes per 100,000 population.
However, it is important to note that sometimes local law enforcement agencies may release slightly different crime figures for their own internal purposes.