MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A family is in mourning after their relative was shot and killed Thursday night outside a Whitehaven grocery store.
They identified the victim as Phil Pittman, and said he had just finished buying snacks for his kids when he was gunned down in the parking lot at a Kroger store on East Shelby Drive. Police responded at 9:19 p.m.
Pittman later died at the hospital, police said Friday morning.
Shawn Cannon is coming to terms with the death of the man he considered his brother.
“I don’t know what happened. I don’t even care. The man’s blood right there,” Cannon said. “I’m not sad. I’m not mad. I’m really glad because we celebrate every day like it’s our last day.”
Cannon says Pittman was a mechanic and a father who left behind nothing but positive memories.
An employee said the victim’s shopping cart was left sitting outside of the scene. Inside the cart were a bag of chips and some drinks.
“He was coming to get his son something to eat from the grocery store,” Cannon said.
Yvonne Herring, a family member of a witness, was picking up her grandson’s truck that was struck in the shooting. She said their daughter was inside the store when shots rang out.
“She said it sounded like machine guns were going off,” Herring said.
Memphis Police say the shooter was last seen in a white Chrysler 300 with tinted windows.
No arrests have been made, and police have not released a motive for the shooting. If you know anything, contact Crimestoppers at 528-CASH.
A spokeswoman for Kroger released this statement:
“At Kroger, we value the safety of our customers and associates. We are working with the local police department during this ongoing investigation.”