WREG-TV, a CBS Memphis affiliate, reported that six people were hospitalized after a nighttime gunshot near Methodist North Facility. The hospital is part of a health care system that includes Methodist North Hospital. In a statement released late Tuesday morning, Memphis Police acknowledged that six individuals had been injured.
According to the police department, officers reacted to the incident when patients arrived at Methodist North Hospital shortly before 12:45 a.m. Four of the six victims were subsequently taken to Regional One hospital, while the other two victims were sent to Le Bonheur children’s hospital.
Three adults and one child were in serious condition when Memphis Police provided the most recent report. As reported by WREG-TV, three of the victims were held because they were in possession of a stolen car at the time of the firing. Uncertain was the origin of the gunfire, although police said that the six victims looked to have been targeted by the same two perpetrators, who fired their firearms from a black SUV.
Outside of Methodist North Hospital, a car was found riddled with gunshot holes and with all four doors wide open, according to WREG. Following the incident, police were on the scene collecting over 40 evidence markers.
The station said that Memphis Police roped off a gas station several miles away where an assault weapon was seen on the pavement near the pumps, but it was unclear if this was the location of the incident. Police said in a Tuesday morning statement that it seemed the incident happened in the vicinity of New Convington Pike and Austin Peay Highway, but the investigation remained continuing. The agency requested that anybody with information phone 901-528-CASH.
Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, of which Methodist North is a part, released a statement on Tuesday morning stating that the system was treating six victims of a gunshot “near” Methodist North.
“We appreciate the speed with which our personnel directed patients away from the ED (Emergency Department) waiting area so that our security team and the Memphis Police Department could react,” the statement said.
A source informed WREG that the hospital was placed on lockdown, but individuals were allowed to leave just after 3 a.m. Methodist Le Bonheur said that Methodist North is not currently under lockdown.