The Memphis Police Department (MPD) reported that the city had a violent Christmas Eve and a violent Christmas Day, including four homicides.
MPD officials tweeted about one shooting homicide that occurred at 2:26 a.m. Saturday at the 1000 block of Haynes Street. Authorities transported the shooting victim to Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis, where staff pronounced him deceased. MPD officials said they had no information about a suspect.
Less than one hour prior, MOD officers tweeted about two additional homicides.
“At 1:52 am this morning, officers made the scene of a shooting at I-40W/Chelsea. Two males were pronounced deceased on the scene and one female was xported to Methodist critical. There is no suspect information. The investigation is ongoing,” according to the tweet.
On Friday, Christmas Eve, MPD officers tweeted that they arrived at the 3300 block of Steve Road in response to a shooting. Authorities transported the male shooting victim to Memphis’ Regional One Health facility, where staff later pronounced him dead. Officers provided no information about a suspect.
On Halloween, Memphis had a similar violent weekend, including three homicides.
Also in October, vandals in Memphis defaced two Geico Insurance billboards at Interstate 40 eastbound with “defund the police” messages.
The group responsible was called INDECLINE. Group members said they believe that reducing the role that police play in people’s daily lives would benefit their safety.
According to its website, INDECLINE defines itself as “an Activist Art Collective founded in 2001 comprised of graffiti writers, filmmakers, photographers and full-time rebels and activists. INDECLINE focuses on social, ecological and economical injustices carried out by American and International governments, corporations and law enforcement agencies.”
Officials with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee recently gathered with Memphis stakeholders and announced the “Better Community Summit,” they said, to reduce violent crime.
Beginning in 2022, organizers are scheduled to hold four workshops in the areas of North Memphis, Whitehaven/Westwood, Hickory Hill/East Memphis, and Orange Mound/South Memphis.
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Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Crime Scene” by Tony Webster CC BY 2.0.
I am against anymore State of Tennessee economic development Tax dollars going to Shelby County, until they reduce violent crime and improve student test scores and graduation rates. The state can’t continue to wast tax dollars going to Shelby County for economic development because no legitimate business would go there in the the most dangerous city in the United States. It is sad the GOP legislatures don’t incentive Shelby County leaders to improve in these critical areas before they get our hard working taxpayer dollars! Look at the government transfer of Tennessee tax dollars going to Shelby county for the courts, prosecutors, jail and prisons and please include the social safety spending we spend! What has been the outcome? More crime and bad results from the education system. Please Tennessee legislatures, please take a pro active role in this hot mess in Shelby County. Sad
The Memphis Mayor is a joke! He does not make any real changes to reduce the crime rate in Memphis! Memphis was recently rated the number 1 violent crime city in America! Memphis/ Shelby County are always complaining about needing More state money for economic development, I think they should get their priorities straighten out first! Improve their schools and reduce crime and businesses will come! Did I mention that RINO, GOP congressman David Kustoff and the Mayor of Memphis were law partners?
So much for defunding law enforcement. Why people are surprised of the simultaneous increase in crime of all levels is shocking. Politicos who voted for defunding ought to be held equally accountable for damages in what really are preventable offenses. Perhaps the city, their insurer AND THE POLITICOS ought to share the penalty. Remove the umbrella of protection or immunity from those elected and you will see more responsible voting rather than voting to appease the loudest group.
The numbers are that low? Then the city council should defund the police immediately, no wait I bet the numbers are that low because they removed the statue of Nathan Bedford Forest! Maybe if they get more federal money with the help of their career politician Steve Cohen, the man with superior knowledge of fried chicken, the numbers will be better. You cannot do better than a safe Democratic progressive city, ask Commie Cooper what a leader he is, Mr. Tax and Spend!