Downtowners rattled after back-to-back shootings

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Downtown Memphis was put on edge after two shootings occurred within hours of each other on Friday.

A man was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and vandalism in connection with a shooting inside an apartment complex.

The other shooting occurred in a busy family-friendly area near the Malco Powerhouse Cinema, which left 17 bullet holes on the side of the building.

As shots were fired, Downtowners had to duck for cover as their normal Friday turned into anything but.

“We’re just sitting in the dog park (and) we have a white sedan pull up in the middle of this intersection,” a witness said. “(Someone) pulls out an AK-47 assault rifle and shoots in this direction. We all get down in the dog park.”

Memphis Police say two cars were shooting at each other in the intersection of South Front Street and GE Patterson.

One of the cars involved turned out to be stolen.

Police say that this shooting is still under investigation.

Hours later another shooting took place less than a mile away at the 266 Lofts apartments.

MPD said Brandon Sims , 33, shot into a man’s apartment after an argument in the pool area.

According to the police report, Sims admitted to officers that he was the one who fired shots in the apartment complex and later told officers that some individuals in the pool attacked him.

He added that that made him feel threatened and led him to fire the shots.

He claimed that someone else had fired shots at him.

While on the scene officers spoke with multiple residents and at no time did anyone claim to see anyone else other than the suspect fire shots in the complex.

Sims is now out on a $65,000 bond.

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