Memphis, Tennessee –
A suspect died Sunday from self-inflicted gunshot wounds while fleeing after a series of shootings in Tennessee that left four female relatives dead and five others seriously injured, police said.
Memphis Police say officers were in a car during a search after shootings at three different locations in Memphis that left three women and a teenage girl dead and another teenage girl seriously injured. The body of Mavis Christian Jr. (52) was discovered inside.
Police said Christian was a relative of the victim, but it was not immediately clear what the relationship was. The victim’s name has not yet been released.
“We are deeply saddened by Saturday’s tragic and senseless shooting that left four innocent family members dead and a fifth victim seriously injured,” police said in a statement posted on social media. ” he said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their loved ones as our community grieves as more lives are claimed by domestic violence.”
“Incidents like this shake all of us to our core,” said Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn “CJ” Davis.
Memphis Police responded to a report of a shooting in the 100 block of Howard Drive on Saturday at 9:22 p.m. Police found a woman who had apparently been shot, and she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators determined there were two other related fatal shootings. A woman and a 13-year-old girl were killed and a 15-year-old girl was seriously injured in Field Lark Drive. Memphis Police Officer Christopher Williams said earlier that another woman was found shot to death on Warrington Road.
Police believed Christian was the shooter and began a manhunt involving local, state and federal law enforcement until his body was recovered.
