A fatal encounter unfolded at a Domino's Pizza in Memphis this past weekend when a dispute over a counterfeit $20 bill led to a shooting and left one man dead. In the late hours of August 31, Memphis Police Department officers arrived at the scene at 3000 Airways Boulevard following a shooting call. As reported by Local Memphis, they discovered an unidentified man on the ground, suffering from a gunshot wound.
Despite efforts to quickly transport the victim to the hospital, he succumbed to his injuries en route. Eric Hopson has since been arrested and is being charged with second-degree murder. At his arrest, Hopson alluded to having "threw the handgun in the field" south of where the victim was shot, a claim substantiated by the discovery of a black Taurus G2C in the field. The statement made by Hopson was detailed by WREG.
The events prior to the tragedy began when the victim attempted to use a fake $20 bill to purchase a pizza at the Domino's pick-up window. Staff members confronted the victim about the counterfeit currency, which escalated to the victim allegedly becoming aggressive. A witness described to Action News 5 how the situation further deteriorated when the victim tried to retrieve the fake bill by climbing through the pick-up window and allegedly hitting the witness in the face.
According to the witness, her boyfriend, Hopson, had been sitting in his vehicle outside the establishment and engaged the victim to confront him which escalated to a physical fight. The violent scuffle was believed to have ended when the witness returned to the business, only for her to hear a gunshot moments later. Hopson reportedly then instructed her to call 911. These details were corroborated by a second witness and supported by video evidence depicting Hopson fighting with the victim, as covered by Local Memphis.
Investigators, having taken Hopson into custody, were unable to obtain a statement from him as he invoked his Miranda Rights. Video footage obtained by authorities has shown Hopson arming himself and then deciding to put away his firearm to engage in the fistfight. After the fight, the video reportedly captured Hopson following the victim off the parking lot, firearm in hand, before discharging it. Hopson is scheduled for a bail review hearing on September 4, at 9 a.m., as mentioned by Action News 5.
