MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A 16-year-old boy is facing a long list of charges, including attempted murder, after police say he shot a teenager outside Central High School on Monday afternoon.
Memphis Police responded to the shooting at 306 South Bellevue Boulevard around 2:45 p.m., where they found a teenager suffering from multiple gunshot wounds behind the school.
The victim was taken to Regional One Hospital in critical condition.
The 16-year-old suspect was reportedly found on Bellevue Boulevard and Peabody Avenue. He ran and officers had to chase him on foot. They eventually used a taser to get him into custody.
The suspect is a student at the high school, police say.
According to MPD, the two teens were involved in a verbal altercation before the shooting.
While in class, the victim allegedly told the suspect that he was going to kill him. The suspect told police that he went home after school, got his grandmother’s gun, went back to school, and shot the victim before the victim could kill him.
The suspect was charged with Attempted Second-Degree Murder, Employment of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony, Carrying Weapons on School Property, Evading Arrest on Foot, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, and Reckless Endangerment with a Deadly Weapon.
At an event Tuesday awarding grant money to dozens of Memphis groups working to prevent violence among young people and promote positive neighborhoods, a WREG reporter asked Memphis Mayor Paul Young about the shooting.
“It’s heartbreaking to see our young people resorting to that to resolve their conflicts so we want to continue to work with these types of organizations so that they can get to those young people in advance before they make those fateful decisions,” Young said.
MSCS school board member Towanna Murphy echoed that sentiment in the following statement:
The rise of school shootings in our communities underscores the need for persistent efforts to promote gun control and ensure school safety. While we work towards these goals, parents must remain vigilant and informed about their children’s actions. In response to recent incidents, we are reassessing safety measures, trusting our School Resource Officers to fortify security.”
Towanna Murphy, MSCS school board member
Murphy also went on to say, “Our thoughts are with Central High School, especially the impacted child, their family, and the individual responsible for the violence.”
The District’s Attorney’s office said the teenager responsible for the shooting did have a hearing on Tuesday and the office is reviewing the case.
His bond has not been set. His identity will not be released unless he is charged as an adult.