MPD: Suspects in deadly Orange Mound mass shooting face federal prosecution

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - Interim Memphis Police Chief CJ Davis said she’s seeking federal prosecution for those responsible for Saturday’s mass shooting in Orange Mound.

At a city council meeting on Tuesday, Chief Davis said community members have submitted plenty of video of the tragedy that claimed two lives and left seven others injured. Thanks to that cooperation, she said there is enough evidence to pursue federal charges.

“We raised the award money for CrimeStoppers and we really started to receive a lot of intel,” said Davis.

Davis did not go into detail about what was seen in the video evidence but said some of the content is disturbing.

Meanwhile, Orange Mound residents are reeling again Tuesday from yet another shooting. Monday night, Memphis police were called back to Orange Mound for a shooting on Buntyn Street just two days after the deadly mass shooting at Orange Mound Park.

One Orange Mound mother says a stray bullet from that shooting flew through their kitchen window. It’s the second reported shooting in the neighborhood in less than a week and this mother said she’s tired of it.

She added that she’s now holding her young son a little closer.

”Personally myself, I feel like taking it back to the old days. Send them to the military, they want to shoot all these big guns, send them to the military,” said Jonika Wilkins. Bullet holes were found stretched to the next block, piercing another resident’s car and her home.

Memphis police said one victim was found after Monday night’s shooting and taken to Regional One Hospital in non-critical condition.

“As a senior citizen, it is heart-wrenching to feel to see that our youth are killing one another,” said Dr. Pamela Mccoy, another Orange Mound resident. 

A man who was caught in the crossfire and wanted to remain anonymous told Action News 5 that the younger generation is invoking fear, and that not even a trip to the nearby grocery store is safe.

“They get out the car with big choppas and nines, extendo clips, guns that are bigger than them. How can I protect myself? We go in the store, if he feel like he want to do something he can let off rounds right there and then,” he said.

MPD has called in some big names to not only help with the Orange Mound shooting investigation but to tackle youth crime as a whole.

“We are utilizing all intel information that we can gather, not just from the Memphis Police Department, but from our federal partners too. The FBI we have called in the ATF to help support in this effort,” said Davis.

She also said the crime that youth are involved in at Memphis City Parks are unacceptable.

“Our recreation centers are full of children, and not just with Orange Mound Park but we had incidents at Douglass Park and Hollywood Community Center,” said Davis.

Chief Davis said some of the Memphis Police Department’s youth gun violence suppression efforts involve creating a task force with Memphis-Shelby County Schools and breaking up unpermitted block parties and meet-ups.

“In order for us to be quick and exact in apprehending these individuals we need input from the community,” said Davis.

Memphis City Councilwoman Jana Swearengen-Washington, who represents District 4, said in part, “I extend my deepest condolences to the families and individuals who have lost loved ones or have been impacted by these senseless acts of violence.”

Memphis police have not released any suspect information connected to the shooting. If you know any information, contact Memphis CrimeStoppers at 901–528–CASH.

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