Memphis Shooting spree: Teen boy arrested, probe on

Memphis city police have arrested a 19-year-old boy allegedly linked to the spree of shootings that occurred in the city on Wednesday. The suspect is a black man named Ezekiel D. Kelly, for whom the police earlier requested the people for a lookout and inform anything they see. The police took him into custody for further investigation.

What is all about Memphis shooting?

A mass shooting happened at various locations in Memphis shooting. A gunman reportedly drove around the city, shot at random people, and live streamed the same on Facebook. At least four people are reported to be killed in the string of shootings, and several injured. Following a significant search, the suspect later got arrested.

One of the shootings occurred at a gas station where a man was killed. One of the Twitter users posted a video of the suspect’s live streaming, showing his entrance into a store and shooting a customer.

Hyderabad rape-murder case: An encounter that left a nation divided

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​Those who praised ‘encounter’

POLITICIANS

Akhilesh Yadav: After all, those who run away from the law could not have run away from justice. It’s good someone has got justice from this, but the real happiness will be when such an effective preventive security system and protective social environment is created that such heinous crimes should never happen to any sisters and daughters.

Mayawati: The action that has been taken by the Hyderabad Police is praiseworthy. In UP, this is happening every day not just in one district but in every district. Be it young girls or aged women, nobody is being spared. There is jungle raj in UP.

Jaya Bachchan: “Der aaye, durust aaye (better late than never).

​Celebrities who praised 'encounter'

Saina Nehwal: Great work #hyderabadpolice. We salute you.

PV Sindhu: Justice has been served! May (her) soul rest in peace.

Vivek Anand Oberoi: Same spot, same time frame, the predators became the prey! Now that’s true poetic justice! Maybe now all such monsters will finally feel fear and think a hundred times before even thinking of raping and murdering girls!

​..And those who spoke against

POLITICIANS

Sitaram Yechury: How we must secure the lives and dignity of each of our citizens, must be what civilised societies are about. Justice can never be retribution. Why is the tough law put in place on the safety of women after the 2012 Delhi crime not being implemented properly?

Yogendra Yadav: No matter how heineous the crime, once we accept “encounter” as a solution, we give up the hope of rule of law. Today, it’s these “criminals”. Tomorrow, it can be you or me.

Milind Deora: Rape victims & their families deserve justice. Govts must do everything in their power to prevent atrocities against women. Courts must administer justice swiftly. India is not & must not become a mobocracy. Our constitution guarantees every Indian the right to a fair trial.

Amit Malviya: Encounter of four rapists by Telangana police may be an act of self defence but the jubilation surrounding it suggests collapse of our collective faith in the criminal justice system as much as politics of netas who normalise rapes by offering sewing machine and cash to rapists.

​Celebrities who spoke against

Vishal Dadlani: We live in a time where the absolute failure of the justice system is hailed as “justice”. Just so you know, cops killing people without a trial can land at your door, too, someday.

Gutta Jwala: Will this stop the future rapists? And an important question. Will every rapist be treated the same way... irrespective of their social standing?

​Those who took the middle ground

Shashi Tharoor: …We need to know more, for instance if the criminals were armed, the police may have been justified in opening fire preemptively. Until details emerge, we should not rush to condemn. But extra-judicial killings are otherwise unacceptable in a society of laws.

Rajeev Chandrasekhar: Its difficult for me to justify encounter killings — but pent up fury against legal system is hard to ignore. Victims —especially poor, women and children are being badly let down by policing and judicial system — held back by capacity and capability.

Arvind Kejriwal: There is satisfaction and happiness among people over the Hyderabad incident. It is a matter of concern that people’s trust in the law and order of the country is broken. We all have to strengthen our law and order system so that people start believing in it and every victim can get justice soon.

What did the Memphis police reveal about the suspect?

According to the Twitter handle of Memphis police, the 19-year-old male, identified as Ezekiel Kelly, was driving a blue or silver sedan (possibly Nissan or Infiniti) responsible for multiple shootings and recording his actions live on Facebook. Police arrested the suspect at around 9:20 PM local time. Initially, the police weren’t able to identify the exact location and asked people to provide any information related to the incident on 911.

He has also reported having carjacked a Toyota SUV before escaping the scene. Police arrested the suspect later after he crashed his stolen car on Ivan Road and Hodge Road. The vehicle which the suspect was driving had a red dealer tag, with the rear window busted. The police also released an image of the suspect, requesting the people to stay indoors until the matter is resolved. Police said further investigation is going on.

FAQs

1. What was the message given by the University of Memphis to its students?
Ans. The University informed the students that a shooting had been reported near the campus and advised them to stay alert and take shelter in a safe place.

2. What about the murder and abduction in Memphis on Friday?
Ans. The mass shooting follows after the city was stunned by the abduction and murder of a 34-year-old female teacher, Eliza Fletcher, while she was jogging in the morning on Friday.