Memphis Mayor Urges Accountability After Downtown Shootings

Two people were injured in separate incidents in the city's core, prompting calls for community-wide action.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 5:23pm

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Memphis Mayor Paul Young released a statement addressing two shootings that occurred in Downtown Memphis on Friday night, which left one person critically injured and another with a gunshot wound to the leg. The mayor expressed frustration over the violence involving young people and called for parents and the community to take accountability for their actions.

Why it matters

The shootings in Downtown Memphis, a popular tourist and entertainment district, raise concerns about public safety and the city's ongoing efforts to address youth violence and crime. The mayor's statement highlights the need for a comprehensive approach that goes beyond just providing youth programs, and instead focuses on parental responsibility and community-wide accountability.

The details

According to police, a man was critically injured and a woman was shot in the leg during two separate shootings in Downtown Memphis late Friday evening. The incidents are under investigation, and police are working to determine if the shootings are connected. In a separate incident, a 7-year-old boy reported being robbed at gunpoint in his South Memphis neighborhood while walking home from a community center.

  • The shootings occurred on Friday night in Downtown Memphis.
  • The 7-year-old boy was robbed on Wednesday while walking home from the Riverview Community Center.

The players

Paul Young

The mayor of Memphis, who released a statement addressing the shootings and calling for accountability from parents and the community.

Kamari Hardin

A 7-year-old boy who was robbed at gunpoint in his South Memphis neighborhood while walking home from a community center.

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What they’re saying

“Last night, our city experienced two deeply troubling acts of violence involving young people in the core of Downtown. We are praying for the recovery of the victims and send our support to their families.”

— Paul Young, Mayor of Memphis

“I am sick of seeing our young people caught up in this kind of violence, and I know our community is, too. This is not about having activities for teens, because we have significantly increased programming. This is about parents taking care of their kids and everybody accepting accountability for their actions.”

— Paul Young, Mayor of Memphis

“It will take a collective effort to continue driving down violence, as we work to build pathways that lead our youth toward something better.”

— Paul Young, Mayor of Memphis

What’s next

The police are continuing their investigation into the two shootings in Downtown Memphis to determine if they are connected. The mayor's office has also indicated that they will be working to address the underlying issues of youth violence and crime in the city through a collaborative community-wide approach.

The takeaway

The shootings in Downtown Memphis highlight the ongoing challenges the city faces in addressing youth violence and crime, and the need for a comprehensive approach that goes beyond just providing youth programs. The mayor's call for parents and the community to take accountability underscores the importance of a collective effort to create pathways for young people that lead them away from violence and towards a better future.