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Shooting at Douglass Community Center, leaving 16-year-old dead and 17-year-old injured, ruled as 'justifiable homicide,' officials say

Memphis Police said a fight between the two teens led to the shooting.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A shooting at the Douglass Community Center in North Memphis that left a 16-year-old boy dead and 17-year-old boy injured in April 2024 has been ruled as a justifiable homicide, officials said.

The Memphis Police Department responded to the shooting minutes before 4 p.m. on Tuesday, April 16, at 1616 Ash Street.

MPD said they found one of the boys behind the community center, and the other boy had run inside for help. MPD then took the two teens to Regional One Health, one of them in critical condition.

The 16-year-old teen was pronounced dead at Regional One, police said, and the 17-year-old's condition was upgraded to non-critical.

Later, the Homicide Bureau ruled the incident as justifiable homicide after determining that the 16-year-old was trying to rob the other teen, resulting in the 17-year-old using force as self-defense, according to the Shelby County Juvenile Court.

The court said the possession of the firearm in question was classified as a misdemeanor, and after careful consideration, the investigators or the district attorney's office declined prosecution, and the matter was not brought to juvenile court.

The Douglass Community Center is near two schools: Douglass High School and Douglass K-8.

After the shooting, Althea Greene, Chair of the Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board of Education, sent out the following statement:

"The Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board of Education mourns the loss of the teenager who was involved in a shooting in the Douglass community this afternoon. We will closely monitor the Memphis Police Department’s investigation and assist if and when needed. The Board offers condolences to the family of the victim." 

MSCS Superintendent Marie Feagins also released the following statement: 

It is always unfortunate when we find ourselves grieving the loss of a child whose hopes and dreams are shattered too soon. Our crisis support team, including grief counselors, is available for our students and staff, and we have also heightened security measures. I am asking everyone to continue to wrap their arms around our schools as we navigate a better way forward for our kids and communities.

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