WMC reporter Joyce Peterson got emotional while talking about recent violence in Memphis.
Peterson was updating viewers live on the Memphis NBC affiliate about a man who had been on a five hour shooting spree in the city, that left at least four dead and three others wounded.
“Stay inside,” said Peterson. “Tell the people you love. Call them. Text them. Email them. Tell them to stay inside. This is not a joke. This is an extremely dangerous situation.”
Peterson then got emotional talking about recent violence in the city.
“Memphis is tired right now,” said Peterson after telling people to stay safe. “Memphis is tired right now. Yeah. I’m good. I’m with you all. Memphis is tired right now.”
“The Eliza Fletcher kidnapping and murder, the other crimes we’ve had this year leading up to this. It’s difficult right now,” Peterson said. “Bear with me. It’s a very nerve-wracking night. It’s been a very difficult week.”
Police eventually caught the suspect, who was identified as 19-year-old Ezekiel Kelly. At the time of Peterson’s live shot, the alleged shooter was still at large.
Eliza Fletcher is the Memphis teacher whose body was found one week after being abducted during an early morning run. Peterson also referenced a minister who was shot and killed in her driveway during a carjacking—and a community advocate from Whitehaven who was also shot and killed.
Below is a timeline of what happened Wednesday night:
12:56 a.m.: A male is found dead in a driveway on Lyndale Avenue. Dewayne Tunstall, 24, was later identified as the victim.
4:38 p.m.: A male is found dead in his vehicle of multiple gunshot wounds on South Parkway East. Video from a business showed a gray sedan pull up next to the victim before the shooting.
4:40 p.m.: A female is shot in the leg on Norris Road near the I-240 southbound ramp. She is hospitalized in non-critical condition.
5:59 pm.: The suspect shoots inside a store on Jackson Avenue while broadcasting on Facebook Live. A male is hospitalized in critical condition with a gunshot wound.
6:12 p.m.: A person reports to police that the suspect was on Facebook Live and threatening to cause harm.
7 p.m.: Memphis police tweet an alert about a suspect “responsible for multiple shootings.”
7:23 p.m.: A woman is found fatally shot at Poplar Avenue and Evergreen Street. Police say the suspect took the victim’s gray SUV and fled.
7:24 p.m. A male is found shot at Poplar Avenue and McLean, less than half a mile from the prior shooting. He is taken to a hospital in non-critical condition.
7:53 p.m.: The city of Memphis asks residents to stay home if they do not need to be out.
8:55 p.m.: A female is found fatally shot on West Raines Road.
8:56 p.m.: Police in Southaven, respond to a carjacking where a Dodge Challenger was taken at gunpoint. The victim is uninjured. The suspect flees and leaves behind the gray SUV, police said.
8:58 p.m.: Officers see the Challenger on Interstate 55 and initiate a high-speed pursuit. Memphis police and Shelby County Sheriff’s Office apprehend the suspect on Hodge Road in Whitehaven.
9:26 p.m.: Police tweet that the suspect is in custody.