Memphis Police Department has arrested 18-year-old Tyreese Earnest following an October 30 shooting at the FedEx World Hub. According to Action News 5, Earnest is accused of shooting a FedEx employee multiple times in the arm and chest. The victim, who remains unnamed, was found coherent and seeking help within the North Tower of the hub after reportedly driving there post-incident from the northern end of the parking area where the shooting took place.
Investigations into the violence have already begun to uncover a more gaunt complexity beneath the surface. Police, after reviewing surveillance footage from the hub on Democrat Road, observed three men breaking into the victim's car just moments before the shooting. Earnest and two other unnamed suspects were later identified as coworkers of the victim, known to him from the work area and a shared group chat. According to FOX13 Memphis, the victim recognized the assailants by face and phone number.
Upon waiver of his Miranda Rights, Earnest agreed to speak with officials at the Airport's headquarters, where he confessed his involvement in the shooting. He also identified his accomplices, as reported by WREG. The phone number that the victim had associated with the alleged shooter was found to be registered to a phone recovered from Earnest.
The man injured in the shooting positively identified Earnest as the assailant. He recounted the chilling words allegedly spoken by Earnest before the trigger was pulled, "If you move imma shoot you." According to FOX13 Memphis. In the wake of this incident, Earnest faces charges of attempted second-degree murder, employment of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon, and vandalism. These developments starkly contrast an initial statement from FedEx that characterized the incident as an accidental discharge of a personal firearm by a team member in the parking lot.
FedEx has reiterated its stance on team member safety and security as a top priority, stating, "There is no higher priority than the safety and security of our team members, and we are cooperating fully with investigating authorities," in a statement obtained by WREG.
