5 shot while playing basketball
By: Jerica Phillips
MEMPHIS, TN (WMC) – Five people were shot while they played basketball near a community center in Raleigh.
Memphis Police Department said the shooting happened around 9 p.m. Thursday near the intersection of Powers Road and Pierotti Park.
“We were playing basketball. I was going up for a rebound, and I just hear shots,” Devonte Isom said.
One of the bullets grazed Isom’s arm. His uncle was not as fortunate. Isom and the other four victims drove to the hospital after the shooting. One of the victims was in critical condition.
Investigators said the shooting was a retaliation stemming from a dice game that took place earlier in the day. City officials said everyone at the park during the shooting was trespassing–as nobody is supposed to be in the park after hours.
The gate to the park used to be locked, but the city no longer locks the gate because people were breaking the locks or jumping the fence anyway.
In 2016, a man was shot and killed on the same basketball court. Officers said they know who is responsible for the 2018 shooting, but they chose not to release any information about the suspect at this time.
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