MEMPHIS, Tenn. – A tragic incident unfolded at an unauthorized public gathering in a Memphis city park on Saturday night, where a shooting left eight individuals injured, with two losing their lives in the violence. Memphis Police Department Chief Cerelyn Davis confirmed the devastating news during a press briefing at the scene that officers were summoned to at 7:19 p.m.
It was reported that the shooting took place at a block party in Orange Mound Park, where an estimated 200 to 300 people were in attendance, even though the event did not have the necessary city permit. Of the eight victims, two men were prononuced dead at the scene, while the six survivors were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment. One of the survivors was in critical condition at Regional One Health in Memphis.
Chief Davis mentioned that video footage was being analyzed as part of the ongoing investigation, as two individuals are suspected to have discharged firearms during the incident. Despite this unsettling turn of events, no arrests had been made. Davis spoke out against the senseless violence, calling for solidarity in opposing such acts in the future.
Originally, the Memphis police reported a higher number of individuals shot, with a subsequent social media update clarifying that the error stemmed from multiple reports of the same victims. This tragedy serves as a grim reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by communities in the city regarding public safety and unpermitted gatherings, highlighting the need for vigilance and cooperation in preventing such incidents in the future.