A 19-year old repeat offender, suspected of shooting and killing four people and injuring at least three others in a rampage on Wednesday afternoon, was arrested in Memphis, Tennessee.
The suspect, Ezekiel Kelly, is also accused of two armed carjackings that happened as he attempted to flee from police. Authorities said the rampage was spread across at least eight different crime scenes.
The string of shootings were reportedly livestreamed on Facebook in the city Wednesday. The suspect was taken into custody following a major manhunt later that evening.
A graphic video from around 4.30pm local time on Wednesday showed what appeared to be Kelly shooting at random people while on Facebook Live at an AutoZone.
The 19-year-old was later seen smiling when he was arrested over the deadly shooting.
Kelly was finally arrested after crashing a stolen car near the area of Ivan Road and Hodge Road.
Police said multiple felony charges are pending against Kelly, who has a previous criminal history. Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland revealed during a press conference that Kelly was charged with attempted first-degree murder but pled guilty to a downgraded aggravated assault charge in April 2021.
Kelly was sentenced to three years in prison, but was released in March 2022 after serving just 11 months of his sentence.
The shooting rampage comes less than six months after Kelly was allowed back on the streets of Memphis.
Ezekiel Kelly’s relative, who did not wish to be named, spoke out after the teen was booked by Memphis officers during the wild manhunt across state lines to Arkansas in stolen cars.
“I found out this evening. I’m shocked just like everybody else. The only person who knows what’s going on with Ezekiel is Ezekiel.”
His aunt continued to say, “He’s got a lot of stuff going on, a lot of deaths around him. He wasn’t just going around doing something as a joke. There’s something going on with him mentally, he needs help.”
In the video, which has been shared on social media, Kelly could be seen exiting the car as he goes on an expletive-filled rant saying, “This s*** is for real,” before walking into an AutoZone and seemingly shooting a man without warning.
When Kelly’s aunt was asked, if she feels he was of sound mind during the shooting, she replied, “No, he wasn’t. That’s not him. It’s hard to survive here, especially when you don’t know who your daddy is. And you’re dealing with these deaths. I’m his aunt. I hate that people lost their lives. I sympathize and empathize, but I haven’t heard anything from him.”
The teenager allegedly engaged in a violent shooting spree across the city on Wednesday, and Memphis Police Chief Davis said cops believe he was also responsible for another murder the night before.
Kelly is accused of hurting several drivers he carjacked during the shocking spree that spanned three states.
“First, he was reportedly in a silver Infiniti, followed by a grey Toyota SUV with Arkansas plates, before he allegedly carjacked a Dodge Challenger and wrecked it in Southaven,” cops said.
Memphis Police Chief Davis made a statement, “I want to reassure the community that 19-year-old Ezekiel Kelly is in fact in custody. This has been a horrific week for the city of Memphis and the Memphis police department,” she continued after Kelly’s arrest, which came just days after the body of murdered jogger Eliza Fletcher was found in the Tennessee city. We extend our sincere condolences to all the victims who have been affected by this sequence of violence acts today,” Davis said, thanking the public for their tips.
You are seeing repeat offenders that are murder’s and rapist doing all these crimes after being able to plead to lesser charges and being released due to these officials claiming overcrowding in jails.. I believe the justice system is a joke and all the prosecutor’s are more worried about convictions versus charging the criminals for the crimes they commit. If they would go back to the old days when a person who took a life would lose theirs. It’s times to punish these people and quit claiming they have rights, or THEY ARE A GOOD BOY OR GIRL THAT IS MISUNDERSTOOD. District Attorney’s quite taking the easy way out and charge the criminals, if not you should be held accountable for the crimes these people do!
the only way to fix this mental case is a lead slug to the MENTAL PSYCHO! he be out on the street in a couple years simple because of the color of his skin; no that he is a psycho AND THE ONLY FIXIING OF THESE KINDS OF PEOPLE IS A SLUG BETWEEN THE EYES. It is A HECK OF A LOT MORE THAT HE GAVE HIS VICTIMS! Now we have to pay his room and board and a lawyer for some whack job that NEEDS TO BE PUT OUT PERMANATELY!
True Words!
Thats the Brain Dead LIBRATURD DA’s for you.
Most of the news about crap like this as of late, has all been committed by niggers!
Yeah…who shoots up schools full kids and movue theaters????
True Words!
El Americano negrito is mui problemo for all people.
Si Si
Too bad the families of these victims can’t sue the DA and the legal system for letting this psycho out after only 11 months. These people would still be alive today if this monster had not been given early parole.
If he was kept in jail for his deal then others would now be alive. We need judges and DAs that do these things to be charged with being an accessory to murder and start sentencing those true responsible to be accountable for their choices.