Ezekiel Kelly is a 19-year-old man. He is also called Zeek Huncho. He shot many people in Memphis on September 8, 2022. Ezekiel Kelly killed four people and hurt three people. He showed his shootings on Facebook. Zeek Huncho shot at people and cars. The police caught him after he crashed a car he stole. He had done bad things before. Ezekiel Kelly went to prison for a shooting in 2020. Zeek Huncho came out of prison early. This article will tell you more about him and his shootings.
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The Background of Ezekiel Kelly
Ezekiel D. Kelly was born on October 14, 2002. He lost his mother to cancer when he was 10 years old and was raised by his grandmother. He dropped out of high school and joined a gang called the “Young Mob”.
A history of mental health problems and violent crimes of Ezekiel Kelly
- He had a history of mental health problems and drug abuse. He was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia and was prescribed medication, but he often skipped his doses. He also used marijuana, cocaine, and ecstasy.
- He had a record of violent crimes, including aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, and firearms violations.
Charged with attempted first-degree murder and released date of Ezekiel Kelly
- The police charged him with attempted first-degree murder in April 2021, but he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of aggravated assault and got a three-year prison sentence.
- He served only 11 months and got out of prison in March 2022.
The Shooting Spree of Ezekiel Kelly
Kelly started his shooting spree around 1 a.m. on September 8, when he shot and killed Dewayne Tunstall, a 22-year-old aspiring food truck owner, at his friend’s house. Tunstall lived by the phrase “everybody eats” and planned to name his food truck “EBE”.
Kelly continued to shoot at random people and livestream on Facebook
Kelly shot at random people in their cars, at a store, and at an apartment complex. He stole two vehicles and crashed one of them in Whitehaven. Police arrested him there. Kelly showed himself holding a gun and firing shots while driving on Facebook Live. Facebook took down the videos. He killed four people and wounded three others. The police have not released the names and conditions of the other victims yet. The police charged Kelly with first-degree murder for killing Tunstall, the first victim in his spree. They expect to charge him with more crimes.
The Reaction to the Shooting Spree
The shooting spree by Kelly shocked and outraged the city of Memphis, which has been facing a rise in violent crime in recent months.
The city issued a shelter-in-place order for part of the city and suspended bus and trolley services in the area while the suspect was at large.
Blamed Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland for the judicial system
Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland blamed the judicial system for failing to keep Kelly behind bars after his previous conviction. He said, “If Mr. Kelly served his full three-year sentence, he would still be in prison today and four of our fellow citizens would still be alive”.
Remarks of Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis
Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis praised the officers who captured Kelly and expressed her condolences to the victims’ families. She said, “This is a very tragic day for our city. We are heartbroken for the families who have lost loved ones today”.
Reactions of Memphis community members
Memphis community members held a vigil in the parking lot of an Auto Zone where one of the shootings took place on Thursday. They lit candles, prayed, and sang songs to honor the victims and call for peace.
The Prevention of Such Tragedies
- The shooting spree by Kelly has raised questions about how to prevent such violent acts from happening again.
- Some experts and advocates have called for reforms in the criminal justice system, such as increasing the sentences for violent offenders, improving the parole and probation system, and enhancing victim services.
- Some experts and advocates have also called for reforms in the mental health system, such as expanding access to mental health care, providing more support and resources for people with mental illnesses, and reducing the stigma and discrimination against them.
- Some experts and advocates have also called for reforms in the gun control laws, such as requiring background checks for all gun purchases, banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, and enforcing stricter penalties for illegal gun possession.