MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Bill Morris Parkway is one of the most highly traveled stretches of roadway in Memphis.
It’s the route many people take daily.
So when two shootings happened to drivers this week as they traveled the stretch, it suddenly turned into a frightening ride.
“It’s crazy, especially because I have a young child. If my child would have been in the car you know what I mean. That’s just awful,” said Katherine Almanza, who regularly drives on Bill Morris Parkway.
Shots were fired Wednesday evening on Bill Morris Parkway between Interstate-240 and Ridgeway.
A woman driving heard three shots fired at her car, her windows shattered under the gun fire.
She was able to drive to a gas station and call police.
Moments later, it happened again.
This time, a man saw a car with tinted windows pull up beside him and someone inside the car pointed a laser at the man and his passenger.
Fortunately, no one was hit.
“For you to drive and just get shot at, it kinda makes you not wanna live in Memphis anymore,” said Spinn Robertson of East Memphis.
Those two shootings come on the heels of another one Sunday a few miles away on Interstate I-40 and Dunlap.
This time a passenger in the car was hit by gunfire and later died.
Random shootings have happened before.
In October, WREG showed you what happened when a trucker’s rig was fired on at Bill Morris Parkway and Kirby.
He was struck in the hand when gunshots shattered his window.
“I wouldn’t know what to do if somebody pulled up on me while I am rolling. Keep your door locked, take cover if you see anything that seems to be strange. Just pull over and stop or put the pedal to the metal and keep it going,” said Keilan Lawson, who lives near Bill Morris Parkway.
Police say there are some things you can do to protect yourself as you are on the road.
They say make sure you are alert to what is going on around you, pay special attention to cars that make sudden or erratic moves and notify police if you see any suspicious activity.
