MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Today marks 3 months since the Orange Mound Park block party deadly shooting, and police are still searching for the shooter.
On April 20, 2024, around 7 p.m., at least one gunman opened fire at more than 300 people gathered at an unsanctioned block party on 2572 Park Ave. Two people were killed and seven others were injured at the shooting.
Weeks later, interim Memphis Police Chief, CJ Davis announced there had been arrests associated with the shooting, none of which was the shooter.
Unfortunately, MPD says there still are no new updates.
Dr. Tonya Walker-Barnes, owner of the Building Bridges Learning Academy in Orange Mound, spoke to ABC24 about the incident and said, “It was sickening. It made me sick to my stomach and it almost made me want to say I’m not supposed to open up a daycare 10 feet away.”
While Dr. Walker-Barnes wasn’t in Orange Mound when the shooting took place she wanted to come to the community and open a children’s learning academy that is literally in the heart of the mound.
Dr. Walker-Barnes says, “We have to do better as a community. We have to learn to treat each other better. We have to respect each other because I’m going to make them. It’s babies that are going to be in this building. Do not hurt one of my babies.”
The grand opening for the Building Bridges Learning Academy in Orange Mound is this Monday, July 22, 2024.
Police encourage the public to share any information related to the case by calling Crime Stoppers at 528-CASH.