A shooting on the 1900 block of Hearst Avenue in Castalia Heights left one person hospitalized Thursday afternoon, and police said two suspects fled the scene. Officers responded at 2:23 p.m., according to police, and found the victim suffering from injuries that were described as non-critical.
According to FOX13 Memphis, the injured person was taken to the hospital in non-critical condition after the shooting. Police said two suspects fled following the incident, and it remains unclear what charges, if any, may follow. The circumstances that led to the shooting have not been disclosed.
A Neighborhood With a Recent History of Gun Violence
Thursday's shooting adds to a string of violent incidents that have rattled Castalia Heights in recent years. In February, two driving bystanders were critically wounded when they were caught in crossfire during a shooting on Castalia Street, a case that led federal marshals to arrest a 22-year-old suspect in May, as previously reported by Hoodline. In July 2024, two people were taken to the hospital after a shooting on Boyle Avenue; one of the victims was a man.
Castalia Heights sits within South Memphis's 38114 ZIP code, which also includes the historic Black communities of Orange Mound and Glenview. Long-term economic disinvestment in that ZIP code contributed to a 22% population decline between 2010 and 2020, according to MLK50. Rep. Amata welcomed $1.4 million in HUD grants, per the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations.
Citywide Crime Numbers Are Trending Down
The Hearst Avenue shooting comes even as Memphis has posted significant drops in violent crime over the past two years. The Memphis Police Department reported in July that overall Part I crime fell 36% year-to-date through the second quarter of 2026. The Memphis Shelby Crime Commission reported that major violent crime fell 31.5% during the first half of 2026. MPD Chief C.J. Davis has attributed the decline to multi-agency coordination and the department's “Sustain the Gains” targeted enforcement strategy.
The Memphis Shelby Crime Commission reported in August that major violent crime across Shelby County fell 30.4% during the first half of 2026 compared to the same period a year earlier, corroborating the citywide trend at the countywide level.
Trauma Care and Potential Legal Exposure
Shooting victims have been taken to Regional One Health. It is not known whether the Hearst Avenue victim was treated there.
Police have not said whether any charges will be filed in connection with the shooting, and the motive remains unknown.
