MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A teenager was killed after a shooting Monday evening in Cordova.
It happened around 8:30 p.m. at the Grove at Trinity Pointe near Germantown Parkway and Trinity.
The Memphis Fire Department said a man shot and killed 15-year-old Eric Key after he reportedly caught the teen breaking into his car. Key was pronounced dead on the scene having been shot multiple times.
The man who allegedly shot him, Alfred Kirkham, 25, was detained and charged with second-degree murder.
Kirkham told police he confronted the teen, pulled out a gun and fired shots. He continued to fire shots as the teen fled the scene, following him until Key was struck.
One witness told authorities she heard the commotion and saw Kirkham standing over Key.
Sarah Orozzo told WREG’s Melissa Moon she was working across the street when she heard the gunfire and realized someone had been shot.
“I just kept hearing one gunshot let off and then several after that.”
“There was a body in parking lot,” she added.
She said car break-ins are not uncommon at the complex, but she never expected anything like this to happen.
“I hate to hear if it was over a vehicle and all that. I hate to hear that somebody lost their life.”
Kirkham stated he did not see Key with a weapon but thought he was reaching for one. A weapon belonging to the shooting victim was not recovered at the scene.
