The Memphis Police Department has reported that an individual suspected of fatally shooting three women and a teenage girl, while critically injuring another teenager at three distinct locations in Tennessee, has passed away from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
On Sunday, a Tennessee suspect died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound while evading authorities after a string of shootings that claimed the lives of four individuals—all women—and left a fifth person seriously injured, according to police.
During a manhunt following the incidents at three different locations in Memphis, law enforcement discovered the body of Mavis Christian Jr., 52, in his car, as reported by the Memphis Police Department. The shootings resulted in the deaths of three women and a teenage girl, with another teenage girl critically wounded, according to the police statement.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic and senseless shootings on Saturday … resulting in the deaths of four innocent family members and a fifth victim critically injured,” the statement posted on social media said. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their loved ones as our community grieves more lives taken by domestic violence.”
Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn “CJ” Davis said that “incidents like these shake us all to our core.”
At 9:22 p.m., Memphis Police Department officers responded to a shooting report in the 100 Block of Howard Drive. Upon arrival, they discovered a woman with an apparent gunshot wound, declared deceased at the scene.
Investigators established connections to two additional fatal shootings. At Field Lark Drive, a woman and a 13-year-old girl were killed, and a 15-year-old girl was critically wounded. Another fatality occurred on Warrington Road, with a woman found fatally shot, according to Memphis Police Officer Christopher Williams.
Video of car of the man found dead during manhunt getting towed away from the scene
Police investigating shootings as domestic violence
Police identified the suspect as Christian and said he was reportedly driving a white 2017 Chevrolet Malibu, the car he was later found in.
Law enforcement initiated a search involving local, state, and federal agencies, suspecting Christian’s involvement in the shootings, until the discovery of the suspect’s body.
MPD responded to the first of the shootings at 5:43 p.m. and found three women shot, two fatally and one critically. Officers arrived at the second scene at 6:40 p.m. where another woman was shot. Police are treating the shootings as domestic violence incidents. Christian was a relative of the victims, police said.
Police said Christian was related to the women and they believed he was targeting family members.
According to police, Christian Jr. is a “known relative,” but an exact relation between him and the victims, a motive, or the victims’ identification have yet to be released.