MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Three people were sent to the hospital after being shot Saturday night in Tipton County, and the shooters are still on the run.
Tipton County Sheriff J.T. ‘Pancho’ Chumley said deputies responded to the shooting call around 10:30 p.m. July 25 in the 100 block of West Harmony Drive in Mason.
Sheriff’s deputies found two people at the scene who had been shot, and a third victim was taken to Baptist Hospital Tipton by private vehicle.
Two victims were treated at the hospital and released, and another is at the hospital in stable condition.
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“I heard a lot of shooting,” Mason resident Robert Dean said. “I heard a big gun, and then I heard a little gun, then I heard another gun over there on the street shooting.”
Multiple nearby homes and vehicles were also hit with gunfire during the shooting.
Sheriff Chumley said detectives found evidence pointing toward multiple shooters being involved.
The motive for the shooting remains unclear.
Chumley did not provide any possible suspect information.
“This remains an active scene and the investigation is ongoing,” Sheriff Chumley said. “Our detectives, along with the assistance of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation are still working to gather information and all the facts to this case.”
This shooting comes just days after Mason town leaders fired every full-time position in the police department, leaving only one part-time officer.
Chief Shannon Beasley with the Tipton County Sheriff’s Office said they’ve assisted Mason Police in the past on other shootings in the Harmony Drive area.
All incidents for the moment are being handled by the sheriff’s department, Beasley said.
“They’re not being forgotten,” Beasley said. “We do want them to know that we’re there for them, and we’re going to do our best to protect them, especially after last night.”
But some Mason residents said they still have concerns about their safety.
Chief Beasley said the only people who should be worried are those out looking for trouble.
“We will find you,” Beasley said. “If you want to continue this type of behavior, you might want to find somewhere else to go because as long as the Tipton County Sheriff’s Office is operating in Mason, that’s not going to be tolerated.”
Sheriff Chumley said his office is working with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation on the case.
Anyone with information on this triple shooting is asked to contact the Criminal Investigations Division at 901-475-3300 or Central Dispatch after hours at 901-475-4300, phone in tips at 901-475-3007 or email tips to sheriff@tiptonco.com.
