Southeast Memphis double shooting: 1 dead, 1 critical

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Southeast Memphis double shooting near Kirby Parkway and Highway 385 left one person dead and another critically injured Thursday morning, May 7, according to the Memphis Police Department.

Officers responding to reports of gunfire found a vehicle that had crashed near the overpass where Kirby Parkway crosses Highway 385. The car had been struck by bullets and was badly damaged, with holes visible in the doors and windows. One victim was pronounced dead at the scene, and a second was taken to a Memphis hospital in critical condition.

MPD said no suspects have been detained and investigators believe the shooters are still armed. Police have not released the victims’ names, nor have they said whether the two people knew each other. The circumstances that led to the shooting also remain unclear.

The response was broad. Officers from the Memphis Police Department were joined by the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the ATF and the Memphis Safe Task Force. The heavy presence stretched into the morning as crews worked the overpass and surrounding lanes.

For residents in the nearby apartment complexes, the sound of gunfire was impossible to ignore.

Reyanna, who was staying at an apartment complex just down the street, said she and a friend named GDN heard what they thought was a window being shattered. The shots sounded like they were happening at their own building.

“It sounded like it was right here at our apartment complex,” Reyanna said. “It was really close.”

She said police cruisers rushed toward the highway within minutes. Another witness, who was getting gas at an Exxon station a short drive from the scene, said he saw an unusually large convoy of police vehicles heading the same way.

The shooting has shaken people who know the neighborhood well. Leland Quarles, who used to live nearby, said his rear windshield exploded last month while he was driving near Ridgeway and Mount Moriah.

“As I got in and drove down the street, I got to Ridgeway and Mount Moriah, and my back windshield just exploded,” Quarles said. “They had no reason. I don’t know if it was a stray shot or what.”

He was not hurt, but the memory stayed with him. On Thursday, he said the latest shooting brought back the same feeling of vulnerability.

Johnnie Jackson, another former resident, stood at a distance and watched investigators work. He said the area has seen too many tragedies.

“I just want, we all want peace,” Jackson said. “We all pray for peace.”

The location of the shooting is a busy interchange in Southeast Memphis. Highway 385, known locally as Nonconnah Parkway, carries a steady stream of traffic through the area, and Kirby Parkway connects several neighborhoods with shopping centers and apartment complexes. During a normal weekday morning, drivers are often stopped near the overpass waiting for lights to change.

Police have not said whether the gunfire came from another vehicle or from someone standing along the road. No suspect description has been released, and MPD did not announce any arrests as of Thursday afternoon.

Why the ATF and the Memphis Safe Task Force were called in is significant. Federal agents frequently help trace firearms used in fatal shootings, and the task force brings together officers from multiple agencies to focus on violent offenders. The number of responders suggests the investigation will go beyond the immediate scene.

Detectives were seen canvassing apartments and looking at nearby businesses. MPD did not say whether any surveillance video captured the shooting, but investigators in cases like this often pull footage from gas stations, apartment cameras and traffic lights to piece together a timeline.

The shooting also adds to broader concerns about gun violence in Memphis. The city has made progress in some crime categories, but residents in Southeast Memphis say gunfire along main roads is still too common. For people who live near the Kirby Parkway corridor, the fear is that another routine commute could turn into another investigation scene.

MPD is asking anyone with information to contact CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH. Tips can be anonymous. Even small details, such as the sound of rapid gunfire or a vehicle leaving the overpass, could help investigators.

The victims’ names are expected to be released after family members are notified. Forensic work on the damaged vehicle will also continue, along with a review of any camera footage from the area.

The area around Kirby Parkway and Highway 385 remained an active investigation site for much of the day. Anyone who was driving through the area during the shooting is encouraged to come forward if they saw anything.

This is a developing story; more information may be released as the investigation continues.