Gunfight breaks out at Cooper-Young convenience store, spreads to residential street

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - A gunfight between two armed groups erupted at a convenience store on East Parkway in the Cooper-Young neighborhood Thursday night before moving onto a nearby residential street, where multiple vehicles were struck by gunfire, according to Memphis police.

No victims have been identified and no one has been taken into custody.

Memphis Police Department responded at 9pm Thursday to the Pride Mart on East Parkway.

Surveillance video from the store showed approximately seven individuals armed with guns exit a tan Buick Rainier and enter the store, police said.

A separate group arrived in a black Nissan Altima parked at a gas pump. One occupant of the Altima approached the store, appeared to recognize the individuals inside, returned to the vehicle and alerted the other occupants.

Three additional subjects then exited the Nissan armed with guns, police said. Individuals inside the store became aware of the group outside, drew weapons and both groups began exchanging gunfire. The building was struck multiple times.

The groups fled in multiple directions and continued exchanging fire. Officers located spent rifle casings at the intersection of New York Street and Oliver Avenue. Three vehicles parked at nearby homes and one vehicle at the Pride Mart were struck by gunfire.

Residents on New York Street said the gunfire was unlike anything they had experienced in the neighborhood.

“I just don’t want the crime to come flooding this way, because it’s never been in Midtown like that. That’s crazy,” said Robert Jefferson, who lives next door to where the shooting occurred on New York Street.

A neighbor who identified herself only as Ashley said she heard the first shots near the gas station before the gunfire moved closer.

“Two minutes later, I heard gunshots right in front of my house,” she said. “I just hit the ground when I heard the gunshots.”

Another neighbor, Marcus Taylor, said he was not home at the time but learned about the shooting from neighbors.

“The neighbors told us that a guy and a lady were shooting at each other, and thank God I wasn’t sitting on the porch,” Taylor said.

Jefferson said surveillance cameras at his home captured some of those involved fleeing the scene.

“We did see a car driving past, was shooting, and some boys running past. Like never seen this before in this neighborhood,” he said.

Officers also made contact with a male juvenile in the area who said he had no knowledge of the shooting. A witness at the scene told officers she was at the Pride Mart when several subjects exited a black sedan and immediately began exchanging gunfire with individuals inside the store.

No arrests have been made. The investigation is ongoing.

Click here to sign up for our newsletter!

Click here to report a spelling or grammar error. Please include the headline.