The Memphis Police Department (MPD) is asking the public to help identify a suspect in yet another violent crime, this time carried out after an argument at a drive-thru window at a fast food restaurant.
On July 8, 2024, at approximately 9:10 p.m., officers responded to a shooting at Church’s Chicken at 2963 Park Avenue. A female victim was located and transported to Regional One Hospital, where she was later pronounced deceased. The victim was working in the business when a female with purple hair driving a teal-colored compact SUV drove through the drive-thru and argued with the victim. The teal-colored SUV drove off the lot, and the victim walked outside of the business to get some air. A few moments later, a gunshot was heard, and the teal-colored SUV was seen on video speeding off the parking lot. The victim was located outside of the business.
Memphis had the highest murder rate of any large city in the United States in 2023.
Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy is known for his soft-on-crime stance when prosecuting criminals.
One elected official, though, State Senator Brent Taylor (R-Memphis), is trying to adress crime in the city.
Taylor recently set up a hotline for crime victims and current or former staff members of Mulroy’s office to gather complaints against Mulroy for mishandling criminal matters and eventually oust the district attorney.
“The response has been overwhelming since announcing my intention to file an ouster resolution against D.A. Mulroy for multiple instances of dereliction of duty and failing to enforce state law as written. I’ve had many in or connected to the District Attorney’s office reach out privately with information relative to the ouster resolution,” Taylor said, as reported by The Tennessee Star.
Taylor filed multiple bills to address violent crime in the city and was recently endorsed by the Shelby County Deputy Sheriff’s Association (SCDSA).
“With his initiative (Make Memphis Matter), he has put the spotlight on the problems we have in our laws, and how crime is handled in Shelby County. There is no doubt that he is making the changes needed to make Memphis and Shelby County once again the shining light it once was, and a place that the citizens want to live and work,” SCDSA President Mark Lowe said.
“Senator Taylor will always have the support of the men and women of the Shelby County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, we have seen he is truly for a better and safer Shelby County. Thank you for what you are doing,” he said.
– – –
Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter/X.