BARTLETT, Tenn. — Balloon strings remained hanging from a mailbox at a home in Bartlett where police said things got out of control.
“These kids were having a good time and then here’s these gang members come up and ruin it for everybody,” Randy Watkins, who lived in the neighborhood, said.
The party was advertised to the high school-aged children as the “Too Turnt Fest” which featured a twerk contest and free drinks.
Bartlett Police said about eight men who looked to be in their 20’s rushed into the party on Fisk Valley Drive throwing up gang signs from the so-called “Fast Cash” gang.
Party goers said a fight broke out moments later.
Police reported that someone in the party yelled “they have a gun.”
The group of teens being attacked ran outside and drove away with the alleged gang members behind them shooting at their car.
The mob made it down to Fisk Ridge Cove.
Neighbors told WREG the car jumped the curb and continued down the road before hitting a pole.
“We heard a boom inside the house,” James Karr said.
“Then I heard pop, pop, pop, pop,” Watkins described.
Police said the drivers lost control while attempting to dodge bullets.
“Somebody in the audience said that he was shot,” Karr said.
A 17-year-old boy was shot in the head and rushed to the ICU.
“The kids didn’t even seem like they were gang members. These were just normal kids,” Watkins said.
The seemingly normal children had their lives flipped upside down at a party that got out of hand.
Bartlett Police said this would be the first gang-related shooting in the town if the investigation can prove that.
