MEMPHIS, TN - No time to celebrate America's freedom for Memphis homicide detectives. MPD investigators were too busy working five murders that occurred in less than 48 hours in the Bluff City.
The first deadly shooting happened around 1:00 a.m. Saturday in the 600-block of Mosby near Alabama in Downtown Memphis. A police spokesperson says three people, including two women and a 6-year-old girl, were shot during a verbal altercation. All three were taken to the hospital.
Cops say 18-year-old Kawanda Wainwright did not survive her injuries. The child is recovering at Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center.
A suspect has been identified in the case but no charges have been filed, according to investigators.
The next fatal shooting happened around 2:00 a.m. Saturday in the 900-block of East Holmes in Whitehaven. The victim's identity has not been released. And no information about the accused shooter has been made available by Memphis Police.
Officers were then called to St. Francis Hospital around 1:00 p.m. on Saturday to handle another homicide case. A male victim, age and name unknown, died in the emergency room. His death may be connected to an incident in the 3400-block of Lichterman in Hickory Hill.
And an hour after that, around 2:00 p.m. Saturday, the MPD responded to a shooting call in the 800-block of West Raines in Southwest Memphis. Officers discovered 43-year-old Charlie Jones, Junior in a field, suffering from a bullet wound.
He was taken to the hospital where he died. Investigators say no arrests have been made in Jones' murder.
The fifth homicide occurred around 9:30 p.m. Saturday, after a father and son were shot in the 5000-block of Christopher near Knight Arnold and Mendenhall in Parkway Village.
An MPD spokesperson tells myEyewitnessNews.com that 57-year-old James C. Balentine and his son, 24-year-old James A. Balentine, were shot by another man during an argument.
The elder Balentine died at the hospital. His son is listed in non-critical condition.
No suspect information has been released by Memphis Police.
Anyone with information about any of these deadly shootings is asked to call Memphis Crime Stoppers at 528-CASH.
