Ezekiel Kelly: Memphis mass shooter, 19, likely to face ‘death penalty’ for killing 4 and injuring 3
MEMPHIS,TENNESSEE: Memphis city which is still reeling from the recent violence had to witness yet another mass shooting on Wednesday, September 7. A 19-year-old man with a criminal record went on a shooting spree that lasted about 22 hours. Ezekiel Kelly was arrested by the authorities on the charges of killing four people and injuring three others. The accused appeared in Memphis, Tennessee court, where the judge informed him that he is likely to face the ‘death penalty' for his remorseful act.
As per the records, around 6 pm Kelly went online and live streamed the shooting while grinning at the camera. One of the victim’s daughters, Ariana, let out her anger and pain over her social media post, “Watched my own momma die in front of me. F*** this city.” Nurse Allison Parker was killed by Kelly when he carjacked her Toyota SUV while trying to escape from the police. Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland, conducted a press conference and slammed the "senseless murder rampage" and expressed his frustration on letting an "armed and dangerous" man, as described by police, go out before serving his full sentence. He added: “This is no way for us to live, and it is not acceptable. The people of our city were confronted with the type of violence no one should have to face.” The accused had been charged with attempted murder in 2021 and was served with a three-year sentence.
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Since Tennessee State reinstated capital punishment in 1978, it has executed 13 criminals in total. The Volunteer State is among 32 states where death penalty is legitimized. Until March 2021, 49 offenders were incarcerated on the state’s death row.
Kelly allegedly started his murderous act first by gunning down and killing Dewayne Tunstall, with several headshots. He was reportedly a friend of his who lived in his driveway on Glendale Avenue. His second victim who died was Richard Clark, sitting in his car on South Parkway East by multiple shots, which he followed by shooting a teen, Corteria Wright. The mad act continued when minutes later he fired at Lakesha McGlathen near Norris Road and Interstate 240, who narrowly survived with bullet wounds to the leg. As per the police report, the other injured victims are Rodolfo Berger.