A grim family altercation in Frayser led to a late-night shooting that resulted in one man being shot in the head. The incident, which took place on Whitney Avenue before 1 a.m. Tuesday, escalated when the victim was confronted over the issue of moving out of his uncle's house. According to an Action News 5 report, the victim was involved in an argument with his uncle when his cousin intervened, firing a shot into the air in an attempt to make him leave.
Despite the warning shot, the victim refused to exit the premises, which prompted the suspect, his cousin, to physically confront him. "The suspect then approached his cousin to hit him with the gun across his face, but the gun fired shooting the victim in the head," Action News 5 states. Following the accidental discharge, the suspect fled the scene, heading south on Signal Street; at the time of the incident, the authorities had not provided any updates on potential arrests or the condition of the victim.
Memphis Police Department, who responded to the scene shortly before 11:30 p.m., confirmed that the dispute over residency was the precipitating factor. FOX13 Memphis indicated that the suspect, after pistol-whipping the victim and inadvertently shooting him in the head, had evaded capture by authorities.
WREG provided additional details from the scene, describing a car with its door wide open and the presence of a crime scene van. "He was taken to the hospital in critical condition," according to WREG's coverage. Witnesses also corroborated that the suspect ran away before police arrival, and the Tennessee Highway Patrol confirmed the suspect fled from a separate traffic stop. The 2012 Nissan the suspect was reportedly driving, was later towed to the city lot for the Domestic Violence Bureau.
The authorities have yet to release information on the recovery of the firearm, or the current status of the search for the suspect.
