Police cite 7 deaths this week, say killings must stop

Seven homicides have occurred in Memphis just since Monday, according to Memphis Police officials who issued a statement late Friday afternoon stating, "These killings must stop.''

Two of the victims knew their assailants and seven of the homicides involved a disagreement or fight, MPD spokesman Louis Brownlee stated in the release.

So far this year 178 homicides have occurred in Memphis. Of those, 88 victims knew their assailants and 27 of those killings involved domestic violence.

This week's homicides started at 12:47 p.m. Monday at 3113 Arbor Place South, where officers found Dewitt Carter, 34, dead in a breezeway. Another person was found nearby with noncritical gunshot wounds. No arrests have been made.

About an hour later, officers arrived at the Summer Park Apartments at 1749 Piping Rock to find Marcus Terry, 27, fatally injured from a gunshot wound. The shooting resulted from a fight in the complex. No arrests have been made.

Memphis sees 7th killing since Monday

At 9:56 p.m. Monday, officers went to 1548 Carlton, where they found Michael Shaw, 20, with fatal gunshot wounds. No arrests have been made.

At 5:50 p.m. Tuesday, officers were called to 568 Baltimore, where they found Robert Seymour, 47, fatally shot. A second person there was noncritically wounded by gunshots. Police arrested and charged Eric Garner with first-degree murder and two counts of aggravated assault.

At 10:14 p.m. Wednesday, police were called to 4834 Bondale, where they found Adan Ventura, 35, fatally wounded by a gunshot. He had just arrived home when he was approached by two young males who shot him for "unknown reasons,'' police said. No arrests have been made.

Police did not identify the week's two other homicide victims, saying the next of kin had not yet confirmed the identities.

"There is no statistical data that will alert us of when someone has made the decision to commit murder; however, the Memphis Police Department is attempting to do all we can to prevent these senseless killings from occurring,'' Brownlee's release states.

Man fatally shot outside his Parkway Village home

Police have:

• Established a Gang Response Team that works with uniform patrol to identify areas where most reported violent crimes occur;
• Participated in the Multi-Agency Gang Unit since 2012. Unit members respond to homicide scenes to help gather information that may help prevent future incidents or retaliation;
• Continued efforts by the MPD Community Outreach Program;
• Used Crime Stoppers to publicly provide details of ongoing investigations and request the public's assistance;
• Worked with other local law enforcement agencies such as Tennessee Highway Patrol, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Marshals Service;
• And continued using the Real Time Crime Center, Blue C.R.U.S.H., and partnered with University of Memphis criminology specialists to study more deeply the crime statistics.

"We will continue to be proactive in our efforts,'' states the MPD release from Brownlee.

"We are continuously working on ways to reduce all crime; however, the Memphis Police Department cannot combat these problems alone,'' the MPD release states. "As a community, we must take a stand.

"We are asking Memphians to choose restraint over violence,'' Brownlee stated in his message to the public. "Only you can control how you respond to an incident. These killings MUST stop.''