MEMPHIS, Tenn. — On Friday, Aug. 16, three men were injured outside of Railgarten in the Cooper-Young and Midtown area, according to the Memphis Police Department (MPD).
MPD initially said one man was taken to Regional One in non-critical condition after the shooting. However, a police report states that while only one was taken to the hospital, three men were hit by gunfire.
Officers responded to the shooting on the 2100 block of Central Ave around 8:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 16.
According to the police report, a man got in an argument with two other men about a parking spot. According to the man, the altercation got "heated" and there were talks about fighting.
One of the two men he was arguing with then pulled out a gun and shot him twice with what appeared to be birdshot from a shotgun that peppered the midsection of his back and front torso, police said.
Memphis Fire took the man to Regional One in non-critical condition.
Another victim was waiting to get inside Railgarten when he heard gunshots. He was hit in the upper shoulder before running for cover, police said.
A third victim was struck in the back of the head, MPD said.
Memphis Fire treated the two men on the scene, according to police.
Police said the suspect is a black man around 23 years old with black twists with a black shirt and is around 125 lbs., police said.
MPD said the suspect got into a gray newer model 2DR Lexus and drove away. Police said the car had an Arkansas license plate with the number EX58207.
Railgarten's response
An initial statement from Railgarten confirmed that the shooting did not occur inside of the bar and grill:
"At this time, we do not have further details about the situation, but we will continue to work closely with the authorities as more information becomes available. Our thoughts are with everyone impacted by this tragic event."
Less than a day after the shooting, on Aug. 17, Railgarten representatives released an updated statement on social media.
This time addressing the Memphis community and security concerns:
"We are deeply saddened by the crime and violence that continues to plague our beloved city. As one of Memphis' largest venues for diverse live music, Railgarten is dedicated to providing a space for everyone to enjoy live shows and a supportive community.
We want to reassure our community that the incident that occurred last night was an isolated event that took place outside our business premises. The victim came to our front door seeking help, and our staff, along with amazing customers, immediately rendered aid while authorities were called. We are grateful for the quick response of our team and patrons, who provided assistance until medics arrived.
Starting today, we are expanding our security measures to ensure that Railgarten remains a safe and fun environment for individuals and families alike. We are committed to doing everything within our power to make our patrons feel safe, but as a small business, we need further help from the city to keep Midtown and all of Memphis safe. We need the support of our city leaders to address this issue and protect the places we all love.
We encourage you to continue supporting us as we work together to make Memphis safer.
Stay safe, Memphis."
According to Railgarten’s Instagram story, guitarist Steve Selvidge was performing at 8 p.m.