One Person Shot and Wounded at Lil Baby Concert in Memphis
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A shooting occurred at a concert headlined by rapper Lil Baby in Memphis, leaving one person injured. Police believe it was a premeditated and targeted attack.
The incident took place late Thursday at FedExForum, a 19,000-seat arena that is home to the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies and the University of Memphis men’s basketball team. The Memphis Police Department responded to the shooting after receiving a report. They swiftly arrived at the scene and found a male victim who had sustained a gunshot wound. The victim was immediately transported to a nearby hospital, where he was later reported to be in stable condition.
Authorities confirmed that no other injuries were reported. They are now working diligently to identify and apprehend the shooter. The method used to bring the firearm into the arena remains a mystery, as the venue employs a private security company for weapon screening.
During the concert, chaos unfolded as shots were fired, prompting Lil Baby to be swiftly escorted off the stage. The police subsequently canceled the rest of the performance and proceeded to evacuate the building. Concert attendee Clarissa Johnson recalled the ordeal, stating, “I heard a pop…I’m not sure what happened but I had a suite, so I told all my crew, ‘get down.’ So we evacuated. Once we evacuated, did a head count. I’m still not sure what happened.”
Lil Baby, through a representative, has yet to provide any additional information about the incident. However, on a post shared on social media platform X (previously known as Twitter) on Friday afternoon, the rapper addressed the situation, saying, “Unfortunately I Couldn’t Perform Last Night In Memphis, Ima Make Sure Everybody Gets A Refund Tho” accompanied by a heart symbol emoji made with two hands.
As investigations continue, the incident serves as a reminder of the persistent challenges faced by event organizers and law enforcement in ensuring the safety of concert-goers. Concert venue security measures will likely be scrutinized in the aftermath of this incident, with a focus on preventing the entry of firearms at future events.