A quiet Saturday morning in Frayser took a grim turn when a child was pronounced dead at the scene of an emergency call, according to Memphis police. Officers responded to an ambulance call just after 10:30 a.m., and emergency crews declared the child deceased at the location. Detectives with the Memphis Police Department have opened a death investigation.
What police are saying
As reported by FOX13 Memphis, officers were dispatched to the ambulance call, and the child was pronounced dead at the scene. According to FOX13, the Memphis Police Department has confirmed that an investigation is underway, but has released few other details, and the child’s identity has not been made public. Investigators are asking anyone with information about what happened to come forward.
Autopsy and next steps
The cause and manner of death will be determined by the Shelby County Medical Examiner’s Office and the West Tennessee Regional Forensic Center, which performs autopsies for the county, per the state’s forensic center listing. Those offices typically coordinate with MPD investigators during active death investigations while forensic testing is completed. No timeline has been given for autopsy results or for when additional information might be released to the public.
Frayser neighborhood context
Frayser has seen several violent incidents in recent months, fueling concern among residents and community advocates. Earlier reporting on the neighborhood’s violence, including a recent fatal shooting, highlights broader public-safety challenges in the area; see coverage of a recent fatal shooting for one example of past incidents. Police often rely on community tips and video footage to help detectives piece together what happened in such cases.
Anyone with information about Saturday’s incident is asked to contact Memphis CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH or the Memphis Police Department non-emergency line at 901-545-COPS. Police have urged witnesses to share any video or details that could assist the investigation. Tips can also be submitted through the Memphis Police Department.
