MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A man is being charged with shooting and killing a man at a Domino's Pizza parking lot after a fight over counterfeit money, according to Memphis Police.
Eric Hopson is charged with second-degree murder. He is currently in the Shelby County Jail on $150,000 bond.
MPD officers responded to a shooting at the Domino’s Pizza, 3000 Airways Boulevard, at 11:40 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. After arriving on the scene, officers found an unidentified man lying on his back, bleeding from a gunshot wound, on the ground of the parking lot, said MPD. First responders tried taking the victim to the hospital, but he died from his injuries in the ambulance.
A witness told MPD that her boyfriend, identified as Eric Hopson, got into a physical fight with the victim.
She told investigators the victim came to Domino’s to buy a pizza with a fake $20 bill. When he was confronted about the fake money, she said the victim became aggressive and tried to get the fake bill back by climbing through the pick-up window and then hitting her in the face.
The witness said her boyfriend, Hopson, was outside Domino's sitting in his car. She said Hopson got out to confront the victim and that's when the fight broke out. She said she thought the fight was over and was heading back into the store when she heard a gunshot. She said Hopson told her to call 911.
The second witness said she was working the pick-up window when the victim tried to buy pizza with a fake $20 bill. The second witness verified the other woman's account of the victim punching her, which led to a fight between him and Hopson.
Investigators found footage that shows Hopson fighting with the victim after he punched one of the witnesses. MPD said the video showed Hopson exiting his car armed with a black handgun to confront the victim. He then put his gun back in his car to go fight the victim. After fighting for a few minutes in the parking lot, both men stopped. The affidavit said Hopson was caught on video walking away from the fight towards his car.
As the victim was walking away from the store, Hopson got his gun and ran to the victim, pointing his gun at him. According to the affidavit, Hopson fired his gun at the victim, who then fell to the ground.
According to the affidavit, Hopson drove away in his tan Toyota Camry. Officers found Hopson at his place on the 900 block of E. Dempster and took him into custody.
While being taken into custody, MPD said officers heard him say that he “threw the handgun in the field” just south of the shooting scene. After checking the field, officers found a black Taurus G2C.
Hopson was taken to 170 North Main for further investigation, but refused to give a statement, according to MPD.