Northbound Interstate 240 by Memphis' Medical District briefly turned into a crime scene early Monday after reports of gunfire shut down the highway and brought a heavy police response, slowing drivers headed into downtown.
The Memphis Police Department said the call came in just before 1 a.m. for shots fired on northbound I-240 near Union Avenue, and officers arrived to find an active scene, according to FOX13 Memphis. Police later reopened the interstate, and officials did not immediately release information about possible injuries or arrests.
Where It Happened
The northbound lanes at Union Avenue run along the edge of Memphis' Medical District, a dense cluster of hospitals and research institutions that includes St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, per the Memphis Medical District Collaborative. With thousands of employees, patients, and visitors moving through the area daily, any closure of nearby ramps or lanes can cause outsized disruption.
Recent Incidents Along the Loop
The I-240 loop has been no stranger to emergency lights and traffic standstills lately. On May 31, a shooting near Lamar and I-240 left two people injured and tied up traffic, Action News 5 reported. A string of past episodes on the corridor has prompted periodic enforcement and traffic operations, according to local coverage.
Anyone with information about Monday's incident is asked to contact the Memphis Police Department nonemergency line at 901-545-COPS or call CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH, per the department's website. This story will be updated if authorities release additional details.
