The tranquility of a Memphis community was pierced Tuesday morning when a 17-year-old boy fell victim to gunfire at the Mill Creek Apartments in Whitehaven. As reported by WREG, Memphis Police were called to the scene around 9:30 a.m. after a suspect, described as wearing a gray hoodie and shorts, was seen chasing the teenager up a stairwell before he shot him and then fled.
The teen managed to survive and was quickly transported to Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, maintaining a non-critical condition. Trying to piece together the events, law enforcement has not provided a motive for the attack. They did, however, release a video of the alleged perpetrator entering the apartment complex's gates, and are actively seeking assistance from the public to identify him. "What can we do? That's the big question, isn't it," a nearby resident told WREG when reflecting on the increasing violence within the area.
In a separate report by Action News 5, it was stated that police responded to the incident after receiving a call at 9:22 a.m. They arrived at the 4400 block of Mill Stream Drive to find the injured youth. The circumstances prompting the teen to sprint up the stairway remain unclear, but the act of violence that followed was unequivocal: the stranger in a gray hoodie pointed a gun and shot him before escaping on foot.
No arrests have been made in connection to the shooting. Investigators continue to appeal to anyone with pertinent information to come forward. Anyone with knowledge regarding the incident is encouraged to call CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH, a detail echoed by each source covering the story, including FOX13 Memphis. As the Memphis community grapples with this latest act of violence, the quest to find answers and to stop the perpetuation of such actions against the youth continues with urgency.
