3 teens injured in early morning shooting that stemmed from mom finding daughter’s boyfriend in her bed, police say

CORDOVA, Tenn. (WMC) - Friday marks the end of the school year for many Memphis-Shelby County School students, but for three local teens, they spent the day in the hospital after being shot.

A 15-year-old girl, 16-year-old boy and an 18-year-old young man were shot just after 6 a.m. Friday in the Chimneyrock area of Cordova, according to Memphis police. At last check, all are still in the hospital.

Action News Five spoke with a neighbor who did not want to be identified but said that two kids ran to her home early Friday morning. She believes they were looking for help before they left.

She said the next thing she knew, multiple police cars showed up outside a neighboring home near 8500 Chimneyrock Boulevard, and crime scene tape was up.

Memphis police say they arrived at the house in the early morning hours to find an 18-year-old with gunshot wounds and his girlfriend, who told officers she witnessed the shooting.

She told police that her boyfriend secretly slept over at her parents’ house overnight and her mom discovered the couple together in bed Friday morning. The girl said her mom was distraught and angry and ordered the unwelcome guest out of her house.

His girlfriend said he obeyed and called his 16-year-old friend once outside, who was hiding in the attic upstairs. The 18-year-old allegedly told his friend to come out “because they were caught.” While this was happening, the teen girl said her mom was still shouting at her boyfriend outside.

She said he then became angry, drew a gun and stormed back into the house towards her mother. The girl told police that her mom saw the gun and ran upstairs just as the armed 18-year-old fired a single shot at her.

The girlfriend told police her sister screamed, “Don’t shoot my mom!” That’s when their mother’s boyfriend reportedly emerged from a bedroom with a gun and shot at the armed teenager, striking him in the arm and back.

During the gunfire, one of the two sisters, unspecified by police, was shot in her side and the 16-year-old friend who was previously hidden in the attic was also shot twice in his leg.

The mother’s boyfriend fled before officers arrived. Police say 12 casings were found on the property in total.

When Action News 5 crews arrived, the home at the center of the shooting was surrounded by crime scene tape and police and a 2024 graduation sign could be seen sitting in the yard.

Neighbors and some visiting family in the neighborhood told Action News 5 they were shocked to see a crime scene in their neighborhood.

“My mom lives here by herself... but it’s a nice great part to live in, it’s a beautiful place. And I just want to know what happened,” said a man visiting his mom.

According to MPD’s crime data map, since May 2023, there have been 26 incidents a quarter of a mile from the scene.

The incidents range from car thefts, simple assaults, and domestic violence.

“Well, it don’t make you feel good. It’s changing too much out here. I’ve been here since ‘89, I guess,” said Oliver Umberger, a resident of the Cordova neighborhood.

The shooting happened just two minutes away from Chimneyrock Elementary School. Action News Five asked MSCS if the school was put on lockdown due to the shooting. A spokesperson said no, since there was no danger to students.

Many neighbors urged how important summer camps and activities will be for kids this summer.

MPD reported earlier in May that there had been eight child deaths so far this year, six of which involved firearms.

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