MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Five people have been detained after a shooting and police chase that left an officer and three others injured, Memphis Police said.
Duke Gaines says the problem started in the morning when a member of his construction crew began arguing with someone.
The crew was doing work along Faronia Road in Whitehaven.
“I don’t know what happened or how the argument took place, because I was doing my job responsibly,” he said. “I was thinking, ‘You know, I hope I don’t get shot.”
The argument escalated into a fist fight that was captured on surveillance video. Other construction workers could be seen joining in.
Gaines says friends of the other guy joined in too.
The other men eventually left, but came back hours later with guns as many of the workers were leaving for the day. The crews foremen had just ended work for the day, because of the earlier fight.
“Before I could clock out, I mean bullets were wizzing past me. I just ducked, you know,” Gaines said.
Police say three workers were hit and taken to the hospital. Two of them were critically injured.
“We’re a work family. I don’t want to see none of them get harmed,” Gaines said.
Police spotted the suspects sometimes later and chased them to I-55 and Stateline Road in Southaven, where at lease one of their vehicles crashed.
Five men were taken into custody.
A Memphis police officer was hurt while apprehending one of them. His injuries aren’t serious.
Gaines is grateful his day didn’t end worse. “You hear about so many times innocent bystanders get shot.”