The suspect in the killing, Ezekiel Kelly, 19, made his first appearance Friday in a Shelby County court on a charge of first-degree murder. Kelly was charged with killing Tunstall, the first victim in the shooting spree. Authorities say the 1 a.m. shooting that left Tunstall dead sparked a string of other shootings across the city that left three dead and three others wounded. Kelly, who was escorted into the courtroom by deputies, was bound and wearing navy prison clothing and a black face mask. He spoke briefly to answer the judge’s questions and did not speak. Judge Karen L. Massey appointed a public defender to represent Kelly. He set the next hearing on Kelly’s motion for Sept. 13. He is being held without bond in the Shelby County Jail, records show. Additional charges are pending, police say. The citywide search for Kelly, also known as “Zeek Huncho,” led to a shelter-in-place order for part of the city and the temporary suspension of bus and trolley service in the area. Officers responded to the first shooting of the afternoon at 4:38 p.m. and found a man in his car with multiple gunshot wounds, police said. Minutes later, police said they found a woman at a different location with a gunshot wound to the leg. Kelly was reportedly streaming on Facebook Live when she opened fire inside a store more than an hour later, according to Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn “CJ” Davis. When officers arrived, they found a man who had been shot and was taken to the hospital in critical condition. According to police, officers responded to three other locations where they found a man and two women who had been shot. The man was taken to a hospital in non-critical condition, Davis said, but both women died. The gunman allegedly stole an SUV from one of the women, he said. After learning that Kelly had hit a person with the gun and taken off in the victim’s Dodge Challenger, the car was located within minutes on I-55, police said. After a car chase, Kelly was arrested and two guns were visible in the car when he was taken into custody, Davis said. Although the motive for the attacks is still unclear, the city of Memphis must now recover from the violent rampage in many of its community members. Tunstall’s friends remember him as a young father who had ambitious dreams and a generous spirit. “He was so sweet. He wanted to get out of here. He wanted to make it. He wanted to make it in his music. He pushed all his friends to do better,” Tunstall’s friend Princess Onwubiko told WHBQ affiliate CNN.
The mayor denounces the early release of the suspect from prison
Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland shared his “deep sympathy” for the victims and their loved ones and condemned the violent attacks in a statement Wednesday night, arguing they could have been prevented if not for holes in the criminal justice system.
“I’m angry for them and I’m angry for our citizens who had to flee for their own safety until this suspect was apprehended. This is no way to live and it’s not acceptable,” Strickland said.
Kelly was released from prison in March after serving 11 months of a three-year sentence for aggravated assault. He initially faced more serious charges in a 2020 case in Shelby County, including attempted murder, reckless endangerment and using a firearm with intent to commit a dangerous felony, court records show, but pleaded guilty to only the less serious charge attack.
“If Mr. Kelly had served the full 3-year sentence, he would still be in prison today and 4 of our fellow citizens would still be alive,” Strickland said.
In his statement, the mayor urged that “these evil actions show why truth in sentencing is essential,” citing a new law in Tennessee that will require those convicted of some violent crimes to serve their full prison terms.
CNN has reached out to the Shelby County public defender for comment.
CNN’s Jamiel Lynch, Jennifer Henderson and Nouran Salahieh contributed to this report.
