Following a double shooting at Main Event entertainment venue in Memphis, the establishment reopened hours later, sparking concerns among residents and patrons about security measures. According to WREG, the shooting occurred just after midnight yesterday and resulted in one male victim in critical condition and a female with a non-critical leg injury. Eyewitness reports and scattered evidence indicated that the violence stemmed from a dispute near the virtual reality gaming area, with customers fleeing amidst the chaos.
Alisha Albright, who had planned her daughter's 13th birthday at Main Event later that same day, expressed her disbelief upon learning that the business reopened without reaching out to her regarding the incident, "Nobody reached out to me but you got a letter on the door," she told WREG. A witness who sought refuge during the shooting described hiding in the manager's office and seeing the injured male with no immediate medical attention provided saying "They had him sitting up and laying up against the game trying to get him to stay conscious," these words casting doubt on the venue's capacity to ensure patron safety during emergencies. Main Event's policy on not proactively communicating incidents to customers further provoked criticism, though the venue expressed willingness to issue refunds to those who requested them.
Authorities are currently conducting a thorough investigation into the shooting detailed in a report by Local Memphis, which included significant police response and the discovery of shell casings both inside and outside of the venue, also MPD received a stolen Glock 19 recovered by an off-duty security guard, now part of the investigation. The situation reportedly originated from a disagreement among a group of women by the bowling lanes, escalating to the violence observed.
Additional details from the Fox13 Memphis coverage revealed that an off-duty officer working security confiscated a gun that was reported stolen from a potential suspect attempting to enter Main Event. Surveillance video showed that the primary victim had passed his gun along with drugs to another individual, these incidents adding layers to the already complex situation "After shots were fired, officers saw several people run and get out through different exits. Also, video showed that the first victim passed his gun to someone else, plus drugs." The Memphis Police Department has not yet made any arrests and encourages anyone with information to come forward as the investigation, hindered by limited surveillance and incomplete camera coverage, continues.
