Eight shot on "gun free" Beale Street

[Pat McGarrity]

Recently, Performa Entertainment and the Beale Street Merchants Association posted signs prohibiting guns:

http://www.wreg.com/wreg-gunsinrestaura ... 2052.story

Besides costing the business of responsible, legally armed customers; How's that working out for ya?




By Christopher Conley

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Five people became homicide victims on a particularly bloody Independence Day in Memphis, and several others were seriously wounded by gunfire.

The bloodletting continued early Sunday, when at least eight people were wounded in two shootings, including five juveniles injured on Beale Street.

At 12:49 a.m. Sunday, an unknown gunman opened fire on a large crowd outside the Plush Club at 380 Beale.

Three of the victims were taken to area hospitals, where one remained in critical condition late Sunday. The other two suffered non-critical injuries, and one had been released from the hospital later Sunday.

Two other victims, who appeared to have been hit by bullet fragments, were treated at the scene.

Witnesses told police that a large crowd had gathered outside the club, and that the suspect began shooting into the crowd.

Police could give no description of the shooter, nor a motive for the shooting.

The 380 Beale address, which has had several names, has been the scene of violence numerous times over the years.

Two men were shot to death outside the club in 1992 and a 16-year-old was killed inside the club in 1993. More recently, three people were injured inside the club during a shooting at a birthday party for local rapper Yo Gotti in 2006, and two University of Memphis basketball players were arrested after a melee in the Plush Club in 2007. The charges against the players were later dropped.

At 12:45 a.m. Sunday, almost the same time as the shootings outside the Plush Club, police were called to the 600 block of Alston, near Crump and Mississippi, where three juveniles had been wounded in a drive-by shooting. All three were taken to area hospitals, and one remained in critical condition Sunday. The other two were treated and released.

Witnesses told police that the youths were walking on Alston when at least two suspects drove past and began to shoot.

One suspect was believed to be driving a dark Buick; the second reportedly was on a motorcycle.

The shootings early Sunday continued a violent Independence Day weekend, the deadliest in Memphis since six people were killed in homicides two weekends ago.

Five people were killed Saturday:

--About 9:20 p.m., police responded to a shooting call on the 5000 block of Christopher Avenue, near Mendenhall and Cottonwood, where they found two gunshot victims, a father and his son.

James C. Balentine, 57, was pronounced dead of his wounds. James A. Balentine, 24, was in non-critical condition Sunday.

Police said the two had gotten into an argument with the shooter, who has not been identified.

--At 1:43 p.m., Memphis police were called to the 800 block of West Raines Road, near South Third, where they found a 43-year-old man suffering from gunshot wounds. Charlie Jones Jr. was rushed to the hospital, but was later pronounced dead.

Police had no suspect information, and continued investigating Sunday.

--At 12:57 p.m., Memphis Police officers were at Saint Francis Hospital in East Memphis on an unrelated call when a seriously injured victim arrived at the emergency entrance in a private vehicle.

The victim, police said, may have been wounded earlier in the day on the 3400 block of Lichterman, near Winchester and Hickory Hill Extended. The victim was pronounced dead. Police did not give an age or gender for the victim.

Police were awaiting the results of an autopsy for an official cause of death, but were investigating it as a homicide. There were no suspects in custody.

--At 2:37 a.m., police responded to a call about a shooting at 954 E. Holmes. They found a 17-year-old boy lying in the driveway. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The victim had not been identified. Police had no suspects in custody.

--At 1:30 a.m., police were called to a domestic shooting at Mosby near Alabama. There they found two women and a girl with gunshot wounds.

Kawanda Wainwright, 18, was taken to the Regional Medical Center at Memphis, where she was pronounced dead. Two other female victims, 35 and 6 years old, suffered non-fatal injuries.

Police said Sunday they have a possible suspect, but no charges had been filed.

Witnesses told police the victims got into an argument with a man who pulled out a pistol and began shooting.

-- Chris Conley: 529-2595