Just before sunrise Tuesday, an early-morning run to the pump in Memphis' Hickory Hill neighborhood turned into a crime scene when gunfire ripped through a gas station and left a motorist wounded. The shooting unfolded shortly before 2:40 a.m. at the Exxon on East Shelby Drive, where police say a person parked at a pump was hit after shots were fired from two separate cars. Witnesses and investigators later found the station’s pump island chewed up by bullets, and repair crews were called in to fix the damage. The injured driver was taken to a hospital for treatment and was released after receiving care.
How police say it unfolded
According to FOX13 Memphis, police said two vehicles, a red sedan and a white sedan, pulled into the station and opened fire while the victim sat at a pump. A masked person reportedly jumped out and began shooting at close range, and the victim tried to escape in a Nissan Altima before driving off to get help. Investigators are reviewing surveillance footage and speaking with witnesses as they work to piece together exactly what happened.
Another episode in a recurring problem
The temporary shutdown of the station lands on a growing list of violent encounters at convenience stores and gas pumps along East Shelby Drive. Recent local coverage has tracked multiple shootings and armed confrontations in the area, fueling calls for more patrols and tougher safety measures at late-night hotspots. Earlier this year, a deadly Christmas-Day shooting at a Hickory Hill Exxon ended with homicide charges, and Action News 5 reported that surveillance video and follow-up arrests were key pieces in that case.
Repairs and next steps
FOX13 Memphis also reported that a repair company came out to fix the damaged pump island while the Exxon stayed closed to customers. The outlet noted that the wounded driver, who was hit while parked at the pump, received medical treatment and was later released from the hospital. Police say the investigation is ongoing and, so far, they have not announced any arrests.
