MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Before a suspect fatally ran a stolen car into a Memphis Police Officer, investigators said he shot three people near Memphis’ Pinch District.
Two people were shot outside Westy’s and a Bass Pro Shops employee was shot in the pyramid’s parking lot.
WREG returned to the Pinch District Monday to talk with people in the neighborhood about safety.
“It was a pretty scary deal, but but all I could keep in my mind is trying to get the police in his direction,” said Jacob Schorr IV at Westy’s.
Schorr was meeting with some other Westy’s staff outside a side door Saturday when he heard a man rambling to himself, walking north on Main.
“Before we got up there, he said something to the effect of, ‘What are you guys looking at?’ and then we started hearing gunfire,” he recalled.
That gunfire struck two Westy’s customers.
Just as soon as the shooter took off running south on Main, Schorr was right behind him, dialing 911.
“Our whole intent was to keep a visual on the guy, so he could get taken off the street,” Schorr said.
He said the man, who police later identified as Justin Welch, tried to stop and hide, but Schorr chased him down to the Convention Center, before Welch ran towards the pyramid.
Schorr said he directed officers that way, where Welch reportedly shot another person.
Despite the ordeal, Schorr believes the Pinch District to be a safe place.
“We pretty much watch out for our neighborhood. We have good cooperation with police. Police come up here and eat,” he said.
City Council member Berlin Boyd represents the Pinch District.
He said that while Saturday’s violence appears to be an isolated incident, the City Council is hoping to provide some funding for mental health and substance abuse organizations in next year’s budget, as well as support for Memphis Police.
“It’s great to have extra officers on the street, but we’re in the recruiting process to build back up to that complement, but right now, it’s going to take everyone, every citizen to get involved and try to do something to help stop the bleeding,” Boyd said.
Walking around the Pinch District, several people told WREG that they do feel safe in the neighborhood, but one person clarified that he feels safer in the daylight.
Preliminary police data online shows officers responded near the Pinch District multiple times over the past month, including about a dozen thefts from cars.
“I feel more safe here than I would in a mall,” Schorr said.