A photograph depicts the moment the 19-year-old Memphis, Tennessee gunman, believed to be responsible for killing four people and injuring three others, was apprehended after leading police on a manhunt lasting several hours.
Ezekiel Kelly, who live-streamed his deadly rampage through the Home of the Blues on Facebook, can also be seen on cell phone footage being handcuffed and led by police by the armpits to an awaiting police vehicle.
After reportedly terrorizing Memphis and leading officers on a police chase, the guy is pursued by at least a dozen officers as he is placed into a vehicle while wearing a white T-shirt, long shorts, and white sneakers.
A photograph posted on Twitter depicts Kelly grinning eerily from ear to ear as he sits in the back seat of a police car, awaiting his transport to jail.
According to online court documents, the gunman was indicted as an adult on murder allegations dating back to February 2020.
In relation to a homicide that occurred on February 3, 2020, he was originally charged as a juvenile with first-degree murder, aggravated assault, using a firearm during a felony, and reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon. The Commercial Appeal stated that he was released on March 16 after serving three years of a three-year sentence.
It is unknown whether the indictment prompted the 22-hour shooting spree. It was initially unclear whether the perpetrator had a relationship to the victims of the massacre, although initial reports indicated that the shootings were random.
Kelly allegedly began his violent rampage through Memphis shortly before 1 a.m., when he murdered a 24-year-old man in the Highland Heights neighborhood on the 3100 block of Lyndale Avenue. Five additional witnesses at the scene identified the shooter as Zeek Huncho, Kelly’s Facebook identity.
As of Thursday morning, the social media behemoth appears to have disabled his page. Facebook worked directly with the Memphis Police Department to remove the video after the live stream was broadcast.
Ezekiel Kelly, 19, was seen on tape flashing a sinister smile (left in a mugshot and right in the back of a police car) after allegedly shooting and killing four people and injuring three others. After an alert was issued, he led police on a manhunt that lasted for hours, causing portions of the city to be placed on lockdown.
Police suspect Kelly recorded his violent rampage in Memphis using Facebook Live. He is spotted here in Autozone aiming at a wounded customer. During a Thursday morning press conference, Memphis Police Director Cerelyn ‘CJ’ Davis stated that charges are pending. Four individuals were killed and three others were injured in seven separate gunshots in Memphis, according to Davis. Wednesday’s rampage began at 12:56 a.m. and lasted until approximately 8:30 p.m.
According to authorities, the gunman remained silent until 4:38 p.m., when he fatally shot a man at a BP gas station on South Parkway East. The business’s surveillance footage saw the suspect drove up to the man in a grey vehicle, shooting a salvo of shots at his man, and then fleeing.
Wednesday marked the 22-hour, murderous rampage in Memphis.
A 24-year-old man is shot and killed in his driveway on the 3100 block of Lyndale Avenue at 12:56 a.m.
A man is shot and murdered in his vehicle at 946 East Parkway South at 4:38 p.m. CCTV footage shows that a grey vehicle drew up and a man began fire.
At 4:40 p.m., a woman is shot in the leg on Norris Road near the southbound ramp to Interstate 240 and transported to a hospital in stable condition.
At 4:59 p.m., a suspect broadcasts live on Facebook as a man is mortally injured in an AutoZone on the 4000 block of Jackson Avenue.
Memphis police issued a citywide alert about the shooting suspect at 6:12 p.m., and portions of the city went into lockdown.
At 5:23 p.m., a carjacking victim was fatally shot at the intersection of Poplar Avenue and North Evergreen Street.
At 6:24 p.m., police respond to another shooting at Poplar and Evergreen; a man is transported to the hospital in stable condition.
At 7:55 p.m., a woman is discovered shot to death on the 800 block of West Raines Street, and a second man is injured.
At 8:56 p.m., a Dodge challenger is stolen at the intersection of Stateline Road and Highway 51. The owner was unharmed.
At 8:58 p.m., police observe a Dodge Challenger traveling northbound on Interstate 55, and a high-speed pursuit ensues. At the intersection of Hodge Rd. and Ivan Rd., Kelly is taken into custody.
At 4:40 p.m., he allegedly shot a woman in the leg on Norris Road near the southbound on-ramp to Interstate 240, according to the police. She was transported to the hospital and is anticipated to recover.
Later, a live Facebook video of a shooting appears to show Kelly entering an AutoZone on the 4000 block of Jackson Avenue, where a man wearing a grey polo shirt is standing behind the counter. The man raises his rifle and shoots multiple shots at the target.
The man was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, according to Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn Davis.
According to MailOnline, the social media corporation erased Kelly’s live video shortly after it was released and was attempting to remove any copies of the film to prevent it from spreading on Facebook.
In response to the shooting, the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism, an organization that seeks to prevent extremists from utilizing the internet and digital media, activated its Content Incident Protocol.
As the guy departs the AutoZone, he can be heard on the recording saying, “This sh*t for real.”
At 6:12 p.m., police received a frantic call from a concerned citizen who reported that Kelly was on Facebook Live threatening to harm Memphis residents, prompting Memphis PD to issue a citywide alert about the suspect.
In a tweet, Memphis Police declared: “ALERT!! ARMED AND DANGEROUS!!!
‘Be on the watch for a man Black inhabiting a blue or silver automobile (perhaps an Infiniti or Nissan) who is responsible for multiple shootings. According to accounts, he is documenting his acts on Facebook. We have no precise information regarding his current location.
Call 911 immediately if you have any information regarding his whereabouts, the message stated, adding, “We will offer additional information as it becomes available.”
In a different video from the same show, Kelly’s short dreadlocks can be seen as he drives down the road and adds, “It’s getting pretty wild here,” followed by the sound of automatic gunfire.
At that time, authorities decided to lock down the city.
Stay inside if you don’t have to be outside until the situation is resolved, tweeted Memphis police.
The Daily Beast stated that the University of Memphis was placed on lockdown and that public transportation was suspended. According to the website, the Memphis Red Birds halted their home game and removed the players from the field.
The Memphis Police Department released this image of Kelly from his Facebook profile in the hopes that someone would contact them with information regarding his whereabouts.
Davis stated that there were at least eight crime scenes in Southaven, Mississippi, including the seven shootings and the carjacking of a Dodge Challenger. Kelly was captured when he wrecked during a high-speed pursuit following the carjacking in Southaven, which is south of Memphis.
On cell phone camera footage, Kelly was seen being escorted away by officers after crashing a Dodge Challenger he had stolen during his spree.
During the incident, police got “many tips” from the public, according to officials.
What we know about suspected Memphis shooter Ezekiel Kelly
Police apprehended Ezekiel Kelly, 19, on Wednesday after he allegedly went on a shooting spree in the Tennessee city, killing four and injuring three more.
The first shooting happened at 1 a.m., with five witnesses at the site identifying the perpetrator as Zeek Huncho, Kelly’s alias on Facebook.
The 19-year-old has a record of violent criminal activity.
According to court documents, 17-year-old Kelly was charged as an adult in February 2020 with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault, using a firearm to commit a dangerous felony, and reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon.
The case’s circumstances were not immediately known.
According to court documents, he pled guilty to aggravated assault and was sentenced to three years in April 2021.
11 months after being sentenced, Kelly was released from prison in March. It is unknown whether the indictment prompted the 22-hour shooting spree.
The majority of Kelly’s Facebook photographs depict him flashing firearms and cash. In mid-August, he posted an unsettling remark saying, “I’m sorry, mum.” I know you detest my lifestyle… I know you pray every night, but I pledge I will not surrender without a struggle.’
During his claimed rampage, he live-streamed his acts on Facebook. He was observed driving about the city in a car, and at one point, he opened fire inside an Auto Zone. According to police, a man was gravely hurt.
As the guy departs the AutoZone, he can be heard on the recording saying, “This sh*t for real.”
As of Thursday morning, the social media behemoth appears to have disabled his page.
When the suspect reappeared at 7:23 p.m. at the intersection of Poplar Avenue and North Evergreen Street, he carjacked a woman, shot her to death, and stole her grey SUV.
Chief Davis stated that a minute later, while still traveling on Poplar Avenue, the suspect shot and injured a man at North McClean Boulevard.
Again, authorities claim Kelly was silent for almost an hour and a half until reappearing on the 800 block of West Raines Street at 8:55 p.m., where a fourth victim of the spree is discovered dead.
Minutes afterwards, he was spotted near the location where he stole a Dodge Challenger on Stateline Road and Highway 51. The owner of the car was not wounded.
The police finally noticed him driving north on Interstate 55 and pursued him.
Kelly was eventually unable to elude the police and crashed at the intersection of Ivan and Hodge roads. Police found two firearms in his car, but he did not resist and was apprehended without incident. Davis stated that there were at least eight crime scenes in Southaven, Mississippi, including the seven shootings and the carjacking of a Dodge Challenger.
The majority of Kelly’s Facebook photographs depict him flashing firearms and cash. In mid-August, he posted an unsettling remark saying, “I’m sorry, mum.” I know you detest my lifestyle… I know you pray every night, but I pledge I will not surrender without a struggle.’
During the shooter’s reign of terror in Memphis, bus service was suspended. Friends and family members urgently called and texted one another to inquire about each other’s well-being. TV stations interrupt regular programming to alert viewers.
Davis stated that police received “many tips” during the ordeal.
Students at the University of Memphis were notified that a shooting had been reported nearby. Rhodes College, which is around 6 kilometers distant from the university, instructed both on- and off-campus students to seek shelter immediately. Kelly was detained approximately 12 miles from Rhodes College and 11 miles from the University.
The police did not disclose a motive or divulge the names of the deceased or injured. Ali Roberts, acting assistant special agent in charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in Memphis, stated that it was too early in the investigation to reveal how the suspect obtained the pistol or guns used in the shootings.
The Memphis police found down Ezekiel Kelly, 19, pictured in this Facebook post, after a shooting spree that left at least four people dead and three injured.
Kelly, seen here in a Facebook post posing while standing over a pair of pistols and 20-dollar bills
In the same week as the shooting spree, the body of 34-year-old kidnapped millionaire heiress Eliza Fletcher was discovered in Memphis. Ex-convict Cleotha Henderson, who served 20 years for an earlier abduction, has been accused with aggravated kidnapping, tampering with evidence, and murder.
The city was on edge for four days following the death of a pastor during a carjacking and the disappearance of a mother of two while jogging.
Witnesses who spoke to the press after the shooting spree stated that killings were “all too often,” while a reporter covering the incident as it was occurring broke down on tape.
Chris Smith, age 47, was visiting Walmart when she learned that a gunman was on the loose.
She told the New York Times that all she could think was that she didn’t want to die in Walmart. “Therefore, I escaped”
“It is all too common,” she continued. You must approach life with the mindset, ‘If it’s my time, it’s my time.’
Living in Memphis is like being in every episode of Breaking Bad, Mary Dudley told the Commercial Appeal.
Joyce Peterson, an anchor and correspondent for Action News 5, fought back tears as she reported on the incident with flashing blue police lights in the background.
“Memphis is currently exhausted,” Peterson stated.
“The kidnappings, abductions, and murders that occurred this year were the precursors to this.” Currently, it’s challenging. Bear with me,’ she whispered, choking back tears.
“It’s been a rough week for those who know the Fletcher family, the minister who was shot and killed in her driveway during a carjacking, and the community champion from Whitehaven who was also shot and killed. It has been challenging in Memphis.
She courageously continued, declaring, “They’re going to find this person.” Until they do, stay inside,’ before detailing what roads were closed in the city on account of them being crime scenes.
He stated on Facebook that the suspect was involved. He will depart in a blaze of glory. He does not care at the moment. He is merely targeting people for the sake of targeting them, without rhyme or reason. He is simply eliminating people. He has carjacked someone and shot multiple individuals. People in Memphis posted on social media: “stay indoors.” “Heed this warning,” she added.
During the pursuit for Ezekiel Kelly, 19, who went on a violent shooting spree in Memphis, Arkansas police form a checkpoint.
After 19-year-old Ezekiel Kelly’s wild shooting spree, Memphis police responded to one of the shootings on Poplar Avenue.
In the same week as the shooting spree, the body of 34-year-old kidnapped millionaire heiress Eliza Fletcher was discovered in Memphis. Ex-convict Cleotha Henderson, who served 20 years for an earlier abduction, has been accused with aggravated kidnapping, tampering with evidence, and murder. Police said that Fletcher was last seen jogging in Memphis at 4:20 a.m. on Friday, when a man approached her and forced her into an SUV after a fight.
Wednesday, 38-year-old Cleotha Abston appeared in court and might face the death penalty. The charges against him, which include murder, kidnapping, and tampering with evidence, have not yet been answered.
The mayor of Memphis, Jim Strickland, laid the blame for Kelly’s alleged spree squarely on a flawed criminal justice system.
‘I am angry. Strickland stated, “I am upset for (the victims) and for our folks who had to stay in place for their own safety until this person was apprehended.” This cannot be our way of life, and it is unacceptable.
In the previous case, Kelly was charged with first-degree murder, but pleaded guilty to aggravated assault. The mayor stated that he was condemned to three years but only served eleven months.
“These horrible deeds demonstrate why honesty in punishment is essential,” he stated. If Mr. Kelly had served his full sentence of three years, he would still be in prison and four of our countrymen would be alive today.
Chase Carlisle, a member of the Memphis City Council, stated on Twitter, “I understand it feels like so much violence and evil in such a short time.” “We are SO much more than that”
According to court documents, 17-year-old Kelly was charged as an adult in February 2020 with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault, using a firearm to commit a dangerous felony, and reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon. The case’s circumstances were not immediately revealed.
According to court documents, he pled guilty to aggravated assault and was sentenced to three years in April 2021. 11 months after being sentenced, Kelly was released from prison in March, according to Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland.
Mass shootings and other gun crimes occur often in the United States, but Congress has been unwilling to approve strict gun control laws because the topic remains politically controversial.
According to the Gun Violence Archive, at least 490 people have been killed in mass shootings and mass murders in the United States in 2022, with 14,050 people dying in gun-related incidents, excluding suicides, over the same time period.