MEMPHIS, Tenn. —A violent night takes the life of a New Orleans firefighter while visiting here in Memphis.
Investigators say Gregory Howard was caught in a shootout as he headed for the doors of the night club.
According to the New Orleans Fire Department, Howard was a nine year veteran of the department and leaves a wife and two children.
Bullet holes, shattered glass on the ground and bottles still sitting outside of the Mynt Lounge.
Near by business owner Juliet Wingo said, “It’s devastating for me to pull up at my business and see yellow crime tape everywhere and I’m like ‘what in the world is going on?'”
The parking lot is where investigators say Gregory Howard spent the last moments of life.
This gunplay is also the reason Wingo says it’s time to go, she’s moving her business somewhere safer.
“It’s not next door it’s the people who come next door it has nothing to do with the owners or the events that are going on its just the people that are going to the event with motives,” Wingo said.
This mother says her heart shattered after getting the call about Howard, a firefighter from New Orleans who got shot just moments after stepping out of his car and heading for the door of the club.
“As far as I know this was his first time in town,” Wingo said, “getting out the car and not even making it inside of the club.”
Investigators think a stray bullet from a shootout taking place between at least two men hit Howard before he even got to check out the party.
“I’m just devastated that he got out of his car and he’s dead and someone has to call his wife and say your husband is gone or [call his mother and say] your son is gone,” Wingo said.
There were plenty of eye witnesses in the club parking lot but across the parking lot, investigators say cameras were watching at this restaurant and now they are reviewing that footage to find answers.
In the meantime, fellow firefighter’s posted their condolences on social media.
