Memphis/ Crime & Emergencies
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Published on March 27, 2024
Memphis Mother Seeks Answers in Fatal Shooting of Son at Midtown Airbnb PartySource: Google Street View

A mother's plea for justice reverberates through Midtown as she grapples with the aftermath of a fatal shooting that claimed the life of her 16-year-old son, Jeremiah Arnold, and left two other teens wounded. The tragedy unfolded outside a residence on Roland Street, identified by locals as a short-term rental property frequently listed on Airbnb. According to FOX13 Memphis, the Memphis Police Department (MPD) responded to the scene after midnight, finding three teens in urgent need of medical care. Arnold was pronounced dead at the hospital, while a 17-year-old boy remains in stable condition and a 15-year-old girl has been released.

In a heart-wrenching statement to WREG, Jessica Kizer, Jeremiah's mother, voiced the agony of not knowing the circumstances that led to her son's demise. She expressed her desire to understand the motive behind the violence, asking, "What did my son do that was so hurtful that would make someone want to kill him?" Two weeks have passed since the incident, yet the MPD has yet to make any arrests.

Kizer recounted the events of March 15th when she allowed her son, described as a responsible teen tracked via the Life360 app, to attend an Airbnb party with friends. As per a report by Action News 5, communications between Kizer and Arnold ceased after midnight. Shortly thereafter, a harrowing phone call from a friend revealed Jeremiah and another youth had been shot. The mother's subsequent struggle for information painted a picture of a parent left in limbo, confronting the opaque aftermath of a violent night.

As the community of Midtown grapples with the senseless loss of a young life and the injury of others, Memphis police surmise that the attack was targeted. Kizer urges anyone with information to step forward, indicating in an interview with Action News 5 that not all attendees of the ill-fated gathering may have been questioned. "I feel like I’m being left out or something is hiding behind something," she said, reflecting the frustration and need for closure that haunts every waking moment since she lost her son. The investigation remains active as the family awaits answers and any form of resolution in the wake of this devastating event.