Police said the gunman opened fire outside a Memphis strip mall and fled in a silver sedan.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — One man was killed and two others were critically wounded in what Memphis police described as a targeted triple shooting Thursday afternoon outside a strip mall in the Fox Meadows area, setting off a large response from local officers and members of the Memphis Safe Task Force.
Police said the shooting happened at about 4:30 p.m. in the parking lot near Mendenhall Road and Knight Arnold Road, outside the Hookah Plus Vape Shop. Investigators said a gunman dressed in all black opened fire on three men and then drove away in a silver sedan. All three victims were taken to a hospital, where one of them was pronounced dead. As of Friday, police had not publicly identified the victims or announced an arrest.
By early evening, yellow tape ringed off much of the parking lot as investigators worked around shell casings and evidence markers scattered near the storefront. Officers moved in and out of the scene while emergency vehicles lined nearby lanes. Memphis Police Chief C.J. Davis was seen speaking with investigators at the scene, though she did not address reporters there. The case quickly drew attention because of both the number of victims and the visible law enforcement response in a busy commercial area during late afternoon traffic.
Police said the shooting appeared to be targeted, a detail that suggested the gunman may have known the victims before the attack. A man who said he often helps at the smoke shop told reporters there had been a long-running conflict involving the people connected to the shooting. “We just need to get together and stop all this,” the man said, adding that tensions had been building for some time. His account has not been independently confirmed by police, and investigators have not released a motive. Authorities also have not said whether the victims were customers, employees or people gathered outside the business when the gunfire broke out.
The violence created another danger at the scene when one of the bullets struck a gas line outside the business, according to local reporting from the parking lot. Utility crews were called in to shut the gas off while officers secured the area. That detail added to the urgency of the response and forced investigators to manage both a homicide scene and a public safety hazard at the same time. By nightfall, the lot remained active with law enforcement and utility workers, while nearby businesses and drivers were pushed away from the center of the investigation.
Members of the Memphis Safe Task Force, including National Guard personnel assigned to the citywide crime effort, were visible on the perimeter of the crime scene. Their presence has become more common in Memphis in recent months as the task force has taken part in patrols and support operations across the city. The Guard members do not make arrests, but their role has added a noticeable layer of security at major scenes. In this case, they stood near blocked-off areas while police detectives, crime scene personnel and other officers moved through the lot collecting evidence and speaking with witnesses.
The shooting also renewed attention on stubborn gun violence in Memphis even as some categories of violent crime have shown improvement. Local television reporting cited city crime dashboard figures showing homicides trending down over a multiyear period, while nonfatal shootings remain a concern. Thursday’s attack underscored that concern: three men were hit in a single burst of violence in broad daylight at a neighborhood shopping center. For residents and business owners nearby, the scene was another reminder of how quickly routine afternoon activity can turn into a major emergency.
As of Friday, police said they were still searching for the gunman who fled after the shooting. Investigators had not released the dead man’s name, the conditions of the two surviving victims beyond saying they were critical, or any description beyond the suspect’s dark clothing and silver sedan. The next key step in the case is the identification of the shooter and any public release of surveillance images, witness accounts or charging documents.
Author note: Last updated April 17, 2026.