Shots were fired on Beale Street after midnight, police said | News

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Bullets were flying in downtown Memphis on Sunday morning. Police say one of these bullets went straight through the window of a restaurant on Beale Street.

FOX13 has learned that this happened while someone was sitting inside the restaurant.

Our team also reached a man who said he was on the scene around 4:45 a.m. when police say shots were fired. He told FOX13 he heard the shots and saw everything that happened.

“Shooting started up on Beale Square. The shots echoed all the way down to BB King Boulevard, about 30 shots,” said John Spates.

Shots were fired early Sunday morning at the corner of BB King and 162 Beale Street. Police confirmed the address was the King’s Palace Cafe. According to police, the person who was inside the cafe was sitting near a window when a bullet fragment pierced the glass.

The victim told police that she heard five shots.

Meanwhile, Spates describes what he heard when he was there this morning.

“Loud shots. They weren’t small caliber weapons, but big cannons.”

Spates told FOX13 that he visits the area frequently and is lucky to be alive. He was so close to the commotion that the bullet fragment almost hit him.

“This bullet here almost hit me in the head,” Spates explained as he held the bullet fragment in his hand and showed it to FOX13. “I was standing next to the pole and when it hit, you could see the flash from the pole, the ‘ding! ding,’ and it hit the steel. You could see the light.”

FOX13 visited the location on Sunday and noticed a boarded-up window at the front of the cafe. It is unclear if this is damage related to the shooting.

Meanwhile, police said the victim heard the shooter yelling profanities. Spates told us he saw everything.

“He shouted insults at the guy in the car and he fought back. He got two of his friends and it started from there.”

“A guy walked by me and said the guys we’re looking for are up there in the car. He walked by me with his gun holstered. When he came around the corner, the guys had gotten out of the car and were laying like tombstones on Beale Street, and they started shooting right down the street,” Spates continued.

Despite the recent shooting, some local families made their way to the popular downtown area over the weekend, but expressed frustration with the impact of crime on this major tourist attraction.

“All people from all walks of life come here just for Beale Street, for the experience. For them to have to worry about people shooting is not safe,” said Teresa Perkins of Memphis.

Police report finding 23 shell casings and bullet fragments in the area. No injuries were reported. No arrests were made, police said.

FOX13 reached out to River City Management Group, owners of several restaurants, including King’s Palace Cafe. The management group did not immediately respond to our request for comment.