MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis Police said a fight over cigarettes early Monday morning ended with a shootout near South Memphis.
MPD said officers responded to a shots fired call May 13, 2024, around 2 a.m. at apartments on West Colorado Avenue near Florida Street.
According to investigators, witnesses told police a man who lived downstairs went upstairs to another man's place, and the two got into an argument because the upstairs neighbor refused to sell the other man some cigarettes. The neighbor told police that at his sons were leaving, one of them started dancing in the street to music that was playing when a green laser was pointed at him.
MPD said witnesses told investigators both the son and the downstairs neighbor began firing at each other, but investigators did not say who fired first. Witnesses told police the downstairs neighbor also started shooting up at the other apartment, hitting the door.
Witnesses told MPD after the shooting, the downstairs neighbor ran back into his apartment with his girlfriend and a small child and the other man's son took off with his girlfriend.
MPD said officers knocked on the downstairs neighbor's door when they got there, but no one answered. They said they then found the back door open and found no one at home.
Investigators said they did not locate anyone injured from the shootout. They said they did find about 21 shell casings in front of the downstairs apartment, and three casings where the upstairs neighbor's son had been standing. They also found a shell casing in front of the upstairs apartment.
Police have not said if anyone has been arrested.
