The Bass Pro Shops at the Memphis Pyramid was abruptly evacuated Wednesday afternoon as Memphis police officers and state troopers converged on the downtown landmark, sending staff, customers and hotel guests streaming out of the massive riverfront complex. Action News 5 crews on site reported the large law-enforcement presence and the steady flow of people leaving the building, but said officials had not released any details by the time the station left the scene.
Police, troopers on site
According to Action News 5, Memphis police responded to the Pyramid while Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers were also on scene gathering information. The station reported seeing staff, shoppers and hotel guests escorted out of the building as authorities secured the area. Reporters with Action News 5 said they reached out to Bass Pro Shops for comment.
About the Pyramid
The Pyramid is a signature riverfront landmark in downtown Memphis that now houses a sprawling Bass Pro Shops megastore, an attached lodge and several visitor attractions. Bass Pro Shops' site notes that the retail complex reopened inside the Pyramid in 2015 and has since become a major draw for tourists, out-of-towners and local shoppers along the Mississippi River.
State troopers in the city
Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers have had a higher profile in Memphis this year as part of the Memphis Safe Task Force and other deployments, according to ongoing local coverage. The Daily Memphian reported in January that THP leaders told lawmakers troopers would remain at near-current levels in Memphis, a decision that helps explain why troopers were among those responding during Wednesday's incident at the Pyramid.
What happens next
As Action News 5 reported, investigators were still gathering information Wednesday afternoon, and there were no immediate official statements about any arrests or injuries tied to the evacuation. This story will be updated if Memphis police or Bass Pro Shops release details about any potential threat, arrest, or closure affecting guests or workers at the Pyramid complex.
