Reporter Joyce Peterson of NBC Action News 5 nearly sobbed in public when discussing the rise in violent crime in Memphis, Tennessee.
While covering a shooting that broke out late on Wednesday and was live streamed on Facebook, Peterson started to tear up. Ezekiel Kelly, 19, was detained by the Memphis Police Department after he spent hours terrorizing the city, swapping automobiles multiple times, and killing seven people.
Memphis newscaster nearly breaks down in tears on live TV discussing the city’s violent crime wave. pic.twitter.com/rzHqP2G2Up
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) September 8, 2022
“Yeah, I’m good, I’m with you all. Memphis is tired right now. The Eliza Fletcher kidnapping and abduction and murder. The other crimes we’ve had this year leading up to this, it’s difficult right now. Bear with me, it’s a very nerve-racking night.”
Kelly allegedly carried out his attacks on Wednesday on a Facebook livestream, in which one clip showed him aiming and shooting his revolver at a customer inside an auto parts store. Four individuals were killed and three more were hurt in the shooting rampage. A BP gas station saw one fatal gunshot, while another shooting happened close to I-240, according to Fox 13. The shootings took place over a period of around nine hours, with the first victim being struck just after 4:30 p.m. and there was a second shooting about 1:00 a.m.
In a different incident, police on Tuesday verified Eliza Fletcher’s demise. During a morning jog, Fletcher, a 34-year-old mother and kindergarten teacher, was thrown into a black GMC Terrain. Her body was discovered by police Monday night.
Cleotha Abston, 38, was detained and charged with first-degree murder and first-degree murder in the commission of an abduction. He is also accused of tampering with evidence and aggravated kidnapping. According to a witness, Abston cleaned the inside of his car and his clothes following the incident.
According to FBI crime statistics, Memphis has an overall crime rate of 7,912 per 100,000 residents, which is 237.3% higher than the national average. The rate of violent crime is more than 500% greater than the national average.
