A workplace argument over tools ended in gunfire outside a Midtown Memphis home on Tuesday, and the wounded man later died at a hospital, authorities say. Memphis police arrested 21-year-old Ashton Williams, a coworker of the victim at an HVAC company, and charged him with voluntary manslaughter along with three additional offenses.
Charges Filed After Deadly Midtown Shooting
According to WATN, Williams was booked on charges of voluntary manslaughter, possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, theft of property under $2,500, and possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell. The shooting happened at approximately 11:15 a.m. Tuesday in the 1000 block of Roland Street, directly adjacent to Rozelle Elementary School. Investigators' choice of a voluntary manslaughter charge, rather than murder, suggests they believe the shooting stemmed from a sudden dispute rather than a planned attack. FOX13 Memphis published photos from the scene Tuesday showing the block cordoned off near the school.
Witnesses and neighbors told WMC that Williams and the man he's accused of killing were coworkers at an HVAC company who had been servicing an air conditioner at the residence when an argument over tools escalated into a physical fight and then gunfire. Police have not officially released the identity of the man who died, and the origin of the theft and drug charges against Williams has not been explained.
Victim Died Hours After Being Shot
Emergency crews rushed the wounded man to a hospital in critical condition, and he was later pronounced dead, according to WREG News Channel 3. What began as a call about a shooting on Roland Street turned into a homicide investigation within hours, the station reported.
What Tennessee's Voluntary Manslaughter Charge Carries
Under Tennessee Code § 39-13-211, voluntary manslaughter is defined as the intentional or knowing killing of another in the heat of passion produced by adequate provocation, a Class B felony, according to Justia Law. A conviction on that charge carries a sentencing range of 8 to 30 years depending on a defendant's prior record. Tennessee law separately requires that a firearm-possession charge tied to a dangerous felony, like the one filed against Williams, carry a mandatory consecutive sentence served after any time imposed for the underlying crime.
Roland Street's History of Gun Violence
Tuesday's shooting was not the first fatal gun violence on the block. In March 2024, a shooting in the 800 block of Roland Street left 16-year-old Jeremiah Arnold dead and a 17-year-old injured, according to WATN. Roland Street sits in the historic Rozelle-Annesdale neighborhood, an area subject to city landmark oversight and residential design guidelines, per Shelby County records.
Neighbors reacted with alarm to daytime gun violence occurring steps from an elementary school during morning hours, WREG News Channel 3 reported, noting that police maintained a heavy presence on the block into the afternoon. Hoodline's earlier report on Tuesday described the victim as seriously hurt before police later confirmed he had died and announced the charges against Williams.
