The Memphis Police Department (MPD) says the individual seen on Monday morning carrying an assault rifle in the Midtown area was not located, however school officials and neighbors say he was questioned.
A statement from Officer Christopher Williams of MPD’s public information office said there were complaints of a “man walking on the sidewalk armed with a rifle.” However, Williams said, the man was not accused of committing a crime.
“While it’s odd, merely openly carrying a gun on a public sidewalk isn’t illegal. He was not located,” said Williams.
Williams also said there is no incident report associated with the complaint.
Two schools in the area, Idlewild Elementary and Grace-St.Luke’s Episcopal School (GSL), took precautions. In a letter to Idlewild families on Monday, school officials said they contacted the school district’s safety and security team. This prompted additional officers to arrive at the school, as they also contacted law enforcement.
“At no time did the individual come on Idlewild property or attempt access to our school,” reads the statement. “Additionally, at no time did MPD advise us to go on lockdown or take any other additional security measures.”
Emails shared with the Flyer confirm that when pictures of the individual began to circulate on the neighborhood app Nextdoor, GSL began a school-wide lockdown and notified police. At the time that parents received the initial notification, the school stated that the “suspect [had] been apprehended per the Memphis Police Department.”
Shortly after, parents received a second email with updates to the situation stating that they had received information from the West Precinct that “the individual with the weapon had been apprehended.” However, according to the school, an in-person visit from an officer contradicted this information.
“We were subsequently visited in-person by the team of officers assigned to our area, who informed us that the individual was NOT apprehended,” an email said. “Nonetheless, MPD has advised us that a further lockdown is not necessary at this time.”
While law enforcement did not advise the schools to take security measures, the school did take extra safety measures out of “an abundance of caution,” as additional officers remained on campus at Idlewild, and GSL closed its playgrounds for the remainder of Monday.
An additional email sent from GSL on Monday night said that MPD had informed them that “they spoke to the individual and determined that he was lawfully carrying the weapon.”
Neighbors of Idlewild also took to Nextdoor to share their version of the incident. A user named Randi Brown told neighbors about the heavy police presence, and called the incident “beyond frightening.”
“He lives near me in a rental. And yes. It’s for real. 8 policemen were over there banging on the door and on the side of the house. He wouldn’t come out. They spoke to him thru his door and then left,” said Brown on a thread.
The Flyer has reached out to MPD regarding the discrepancies in these accounts.
