‘I had to do it’: Main Event security guard shot co-worker twice in head, witnesses say

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Police say a Main Event security guard shot another security guard in the head after they argued about the use of the metal detector on people coming into the business Monday night.

Investigators said Richard Lewis, 44, shot and killed James Redmon inside the entrance of the business at 7219 Appling Farms Parkway.

Police say he told the general manager of Main Event, “He came at me, and I had to do it.”

When officers arrived on the scene, they found Redmon dead on the ground with a head wound.

Another employee said Lewis got upset when he arrived at work, saw that Redmon was working there, and said, if “James Redmon walks up on one me, I’m gonna blow his a** off.”

The employee said about ten minutes later, he saw Lewis shoot Redmon twice in the head.

A customer in the bar area told police she saw the two security guards arguing near the entrance of Main Event and less than a minute later heard at least four “pows” and saw a man lying on the ground and a man wearing what looked like a police type vest standing next to him.

Police said Lewis was armed with a black Austria Glock with 10mm live rounds in the 15-round magazine and had one live 10mm round in the chamber. They located two 10mm spent shell casings inside the business near Redmon.

State records show suspect Richard Lewis appears to have an expired armed security license from 2021.

Lewis was charged with First Degree Murder and is being held without bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday.

Main Event was still closed Tuesday afternoon. Customers trying to go to the business said they were shocked to hear what had happened and that security guards were involved.

WREG contacted Main Event multiple times for a comment, but we have not heard back from the company yet.

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