The Memphis music community is mourning the loss of one of its own following a fatal shooting in Midtown. Blake Rhea, a local musician, was pronounced dead at the scene near Louis Connolly’s Bar, at the intersection of Cleveland and Linden, yesterday morning. The suspect, 51-year-old Edward Wurl, was arrested and charged with First Degree Murder, as reported by Action News 5.
According to police statements detailed in an affidavit, the two men had been involved in a romantic entanglement with the same woman which may have precipitated the violence, though the full nature of the argument remains under investigation. Surveillance footage obtained by the police, and first reported by WREG, revealed a struggle at Rhea’s car, at which point Wurl, who reportedly had walked out of the bar with an object resembling a knife, shot Rhea.
Wurl, already a convicted felon for crimes including burglary and unlawful wounding since 1994, has been charged anew, both with the murder of Rhea and illegal possession of a handgun. The incident, which occurred just outside of Crump Stadium, prompted a response from local business owners and patrons alike. In a statement obtained by WREG, Louis Connolly, the owner of the bar, expressed his devastation over the event that unfolded near his establishment.
"I was devastated to learn this morning about the shooting death that occurred outside Crump Stadium near our bar," Connolly was quoted as saying in a statement obtained by WREG. He added, "We love the city of Memphis, but stories like this are so common that we have become almost numb to them." Emphasizing the tragedy, Connolly also relayed that the establishment is cooperating with the Memphis Police Department by providing camera footage that captured the incident.
The Memphis Police Department is urging anyone with further information to come forward and contact Crimestoppers at 901-528-CASH. This developing story saw major coverage across local news outlets, with initial breaking news shared by FOX13 Memphis. The music community and the larger Memphis area continue to grapple with the impact of this violence as they await further details from the ongoing investigation.
