A 67-year-old Memphis man is facing five counts of aggravated assault after police say he fired shots at children who were simply playing in a vacant lot near his home. Arthur Vaughn allegedly confronted the group, went inside to grab a gun, and fired as they ran for safety. His bond was set at $350,000.
According to the Memphis Police Department, officers responded Monday to a shots-fired call on East Frank Avenue after a mother reported that someone had shot at her children while they were playing in a vacant lot, as reported by Action News 5. Investigators said Vaughn confronted the children about being near his property before the situation escalated.
Gun Hidden Behind a Television Set
Investigators said Vaughn then went inside his house, grabbed a gun, and pointed it at the children. Court documents state he fired two to four rounds as the children ran away. Police recovered five shell casings from Vaughn's front porch, and during a later search, investigators seized a handgun that had been hidden behind a television, the station's report notes.
Vaughn now faces five counts of aggravated assault, according to the Memphis Police Department. His bond was set at $350,000, and he is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday.
Part of a Troubling Pattern of Gunfire Near Children in Memphis
This is not the only recent Memphis case involving gunfire aimed at or near children. In a separate incident, 22-year-old Cameron Shaw was charged with two counts of criminal attempt first-degree murder after allegedly firing multiple shots into a car occupied by a man, a woman and children, according to Fox13 Memphis. Court documents say Shaw used a Glock 19 and fired into the Jeep's window; his bond was set at $250,000.
In another case, a mother identified as Latorya Lemons was accused of firing shots at six children and injuring a 12-year-old boy, WREG reported. Lemons was held on a $500,000 bond and faced six aggravated assault charges, six felony reckless endangerment counts, and two counts of violating bail conditions.
A separate shooting in Soulsville left a home and a parked vehicle riddled with bullets while a girlfriend, her two children and two other people were inside, according to a prior Hoodline report. Investigators determined the home had been hit six times, with the woman's vehicle struck five times.
Citywide Crime Numbers Have Been Trending Down
Citywide Crime Numbers Have Been Trending Down These incidents come even as Memphis has reported declines in overall crime and homicides. Hoodline previously reported that overall crime fell 27% in 2025, with homicides dropping 26% to 184. Citywide crime was down 41.5% and homicides down 31% in the first quarter of 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier, per the same Hoodline reporting.
Vaughn's case now moves to the Memphis court system, where he is set to appear Wednesday to face the five aggravated assault charges stemming from the East Frank Avenue incident.
