UPDATE 9/28/2018 – 12:50 p.m.: Memphis Police say two people are in custody after a chase and crash Friday morning. Police would not confirm if the two are suspects in the shooting death of Greater Memphis Chamber President & CEO Phil Trenary.
The two were taken into custody after police chased a white truck matching the description of the suspect’s vehicle in Thursday night’s deadly shooting of Trenary. The truck crashed on McLemore near Mississippi Blvd. Several vehicles appeared to be involved in the crash.
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(ORIGINAL STORY)
Memphis police are investigating the shooting death of a prominent city leader Thursday night in Downtown Memphis.
According to MPD, 64-year-old Phil Trenary, President and CEO of the Greater Memphis Chamber, was gunned down around 7:30 p.m. in the 500 block of South Front. That’s near the farmer’s market.
Local 24 News has learned that Trenary had just left the Chamber’s Move It Memphis 4 Miler that ended at Loflin Yard.
Investigators say the suspect is a black man with dreads and was wearing a blue shirt and driving a newer model white Ford F-150. The suspect got out of the truck, shot Trenary then drove off.
MPD says it’s unknown at this time whether this was a robbery attempt, a personal vendetta or a random act of violence.
Trenary served as President and CEO of the Chamber since 2014.
Richard W. Smith, Chairman of the Greater Memphis Chamber, issued this statement Friday morning:
“This is a difficult day.
I want to extend my heartfelt condolences to Phil Trenary’s family, his friends, to his colleagues at the Greater Memphis Chamber, and to the entire community who mourn this loss with us today.
Phil believed, as we all still believe, that Memphis’s best days are ahead.
Last night, we lost a leader, a neighbor, a friend and a champion of our cause. Through his time at the helm of the Greater Memphis Chamber, he pushed to move our city and our region forward. He took on difficult challenges, remaining laser focused on one goal: for Memphis to win.
Phil always spoke with great pride about the direction of this organization and our city. He was so proud of the strong leadership he had assembled at the Chamber and was more optimistic than ever about our collective future.
We are grieving today, but we remain committed to Phil’s vision for Memphis. This was a man who woke up every day and worked to bring jobs and opportunities to our community. We owe it to him and to his legacy to continue that work.
I ask that you continue to respect the privacy of the Trenary family during this unfathomably difficult time.
All additional details are subject to an active investigation and should be directed to the appropriate authorities. We will provide more information as it becomes available.
Thank you.”
