What started as a birthday celebration outside a seafood restaurant on the 2800 block of Covington Pike turned chaotic Saturday afternoon when gunfire erupted, leaving one man wounded. Police say the man refused medical treatment at the scene. Witnesses told officers a confrontation broke out before the shots, and the gunman took off before police arrived. Investigators collected multiple shell casings outside the business as they continue to dig into what happened.
Memphis police were called around 3:40 p.m. to a report of a large group where people said a man had been shot. According to a police report, the trouble began when a suspect punched the victim, then a woman allegedly handed the suspect a firearm. The suspect walked out of the restaurant, got into a red vehicle, and later returned to fire at the victim. Officers documented shell casings outside the business, and police did not release any description of the suspect, as reported by WREG.
Investigators urged anyone who saw the shooting or has video from the scene to come forward. Tipsters can call or text CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH, with anonymous reporting options listed on the CrimeStoppers of Memphis website. The Memphis Police Department also offers reporting resources and a non-emergency line for the public.
Family members at the scene described a complicated situation. An uncle told officers the man has a mental disability and was having what relatives called an episode. A grandmother said she saw the suspect retrieve the gun before opening fire. The victim later told police he was not shot at, according to family accounts. Those family statements and other scene details were included in the initial police report, per WREG.
Shootings Near Restaurants
Shootings outside restaurants have cropped up elsewhere in Memphis in recent months, including a January incident at Red Pier Seafood that led to multiple detentions and customer evacuations. Local coverage of that case highlighted how quickly disputes at dining spots can flare into violence and why police keep stressing that witnesses share tips and video with detectives, as covered by Action News 5.
No arrests have been announced in the latest case, and the investigation remains active. Anyone with information is asked to contact CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH or reach out to Memphis police through the department’s non-emergency line.
