MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Shelby County District Attorney General’s Office (SCDAG) announced Thursday a gas station along Lamar Ave. near the Oakville area has been declared a public nuisance.
The D.A. said the Gas Express in the 3400 block of Lamar Ave. was shut down Feb. 28, 2024, by Memphis police after a more than two-year investigation.
The Shelby County Criminal Court granted a temporary injunction against the business on Feb. 27, deeming it a public nuisance.
According to the D.A., MPD’s Organized Crime Unit (OCU) detectives began investigating the gas station in October 2021 after numerous complaints from the community about violence and more. MPD responded to a total of 903 calls and completed 189 reports on crimes there including homicides, carjacking, robberies, prostitution, theft, drugs, and weapons violations. They said 93 arrests were made on the gas station property.
The D.A.’s office said while shutting down the business on Wednesday, three people were taken into custody, and drugs and weapons were found on site.
They said the store also failed inspections and had citations from Memphis Fire and Shelby County Code Enforcement.
The owners of Gas Express are scheduled to appear in Shelby County Environmental Court on March 5.