Shots fired on Beale Street; business struck by bullet

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Several shots were fired on Beale Street early Sunday morning, Memphis police say.

On July 7 at 4:45 a.m., officers responded to a vandalism/misdemeanor at 162 Beale St.

Upon arrival, officers made the scene of a business (King’s Palace Cafe) where there were shots fired in the area of B.B. King and Beale Street.

Officers spoke with Don Luna, who said that she was inside the building when she heard five gunshots fired in the area.

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She told officers that she was sitting by the front window when one bullet fragment came through the glass. Luna showed officers the bullet hole in the wall right where she was sitting.

A witness described the shooter as a 6’0″ man wearing all-black clothing.

Luna told officers she heard the unknown suspect allegedly yell out, “I’m going to f— some s— up”, and started shooting in the area.

“Beale Street is fun. It’s historic, It’s lively, and it’s a shame that these things happen,” said Luna.

The suspect was on foot and fled the scene going westbound on Beale Street towards Second Street.

The complainant told officers she didn’t see anything, she just heard gunshots while she was sitting in her back office and called the police.

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Officers continued to canvas the area and located 23 shell cases in the intersection of Second Street and Beale Street.

No injuries have been reported.

WREG was on Beale Street in April as MPD investigated a shooting where three men were shot around 3:30 am, leading to calls for bars in the area to close earlier.

“I’m sure there are bars on Beale Street that say, ‘No we can’t afford to close that early.’ We hear people say, ‘Well, wouldn’t that hurt the business?’ What’s hurting the business is the reputation that’s being harmed by incidents after one or two in the morning,” said Jerred Price, President of the Downtown Neighborhood Association.

The shooting happened at 4:45 a.m., but the business hours online say King’s Palace Cafe closes at 1 a.m. We reached out to see if they have any additional information and have not heard back.

If you have any information that could help police, call CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH.

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