MEMPHIS, Tenn. — People shopping and living around the Southeast Memphis LA Fitness are on edge after the fitness center was the scene of a shooting that left an 18-year-old dead.
Police are still on the hunt for the two suspects they say are responsible for the shooting off Winchester.
Since the shooting it’s clear the gym is working to at least look secure.
There’s Memphis Police cameras and a security guard patrolling the parking lot.
Around 6 p.m. Monday afternoon a police cruiser also made a lap around the parking lot as it started to fill up with people working out after work.
People WREG talked to said the shooting proves you have to be aware no matter where you are.
“I thought it was quite upsetting, you know cause we don’t have any crime in our neighborhood around here. It’s very low key, very quiet,” said Wandra Powell.
Powell lives and shops near LA Fitness.
“Right in the back of my house almost. It was right directly in the back of us,” said Powell.
She called the shooting of 18-year-old Vicdarrius Pollard Friday afternoon “senseless.”
Police said two men, upset over a basketball game at the gym went out to the parking lot, got a gun and then went back inside the gym and opened fire.
Witnesses said they then took off.
Pollard had just graduated from Kirby High School.
A former teacher called him a leader and he was set to go to college soon.
“I wouldn’t think that would happen here. We ain’t in the city, we in the outskirts,” said one man getting gas nearby.
WREG crunched the numbers on the Memphis Daily News Crime Tracker.
In the last month, within the last mile there’s been 110 reported crimes, most of them theft and shoplifting.
Manita Toney said the numbers make her more aware but she’s not changing her lifestyle.
“This is where I shop! And I stay in this area from here to Collierville this is the main shopping area,” said Toney.
For Powell the shooting is a reminder no one is immune to crime.
“People say oh it shouldn’t happen in my neighborhood–it happens everywhere. It could’ve happened next door to me. You just never know,” said Powell.
WREG reached out to LA Fitness to see what they’re doing to keep customers safe we were directed to corporate but haven’t heard back yet.
