Robbery, Shooting Caught On Home Security Camera

Two gunman caught on tape shooting man outside Frayser house
I went by a home in Frayser after Memphis Police sent us a press release regarding a robbery and shooting from last week.  They included a few surveillance photos.  Fortunately, I was able to find both victims (one of whom was just released from the hospital).  One victim had much better surveillance photos on his computer.  They came from a camera mounted outside his home.  More and more people seem to be using home surveillance systems.  Perhaps the photos will help catch the crooks in this case.

Back In Time For A Bank Robbery Story

Startling update on Tuesday's suicidal bank robber
I dipped into the Action News 5 archives for this story.  It happened after I learned a suspected bank robber who killed himself following a pursuit had been chased by Memphis Police before.  Marvin Amerson was so infamous in the early 90's, he even earned a nickname.  He was just released from prison in March.  In addition to the old video, I got in touch with a retired detective who worked the case way back when.

Mom & Baby Saved From Flooded Street

Flash flooding traps mother, baby in waist-high water
Heavy rains brought flash flooding to parts of Memphis on this day.  It meant my photographer and I got wet, really wet.  We were dispatched to the Raleigh neighborhood where several cars got stuck in waist-deep water.  We heard a mother and baby were rescued.  Fortunately, a cash advance office employee came out of her business and told us the victims were at a hair salon next door.  We got video of the 3 week-old child and his mom talked too.  As a result, it wasn't your average flooded street story.

City Of Memphis Victim Of Thieves

Crooks rip out air-conditioning unit, steal expensive city lawn equipment
I was perusing police reports and noticed a city owned property had been burglarized.  A little digging revealed that $40-$50,000 worth of grounds maintenance equipment was swiped.  The guys in the public works department are always willing to get the word out.  And we happened upon a city crew cutting some grass.. So, that gave us some good b-roll.

2nd Time's A Charm For Municipal Schools

TEAM COVERAGE: All six municipalities choose to form school districts
Voters in Memphis's 6 suburbs went back to the polls to vote on the formation of municipal school districts.  It was an effort started following the planned consolidation of Memphis and Shelby County Schools.  It includes, arguably, some racial undertones.  Referendums in 2012 were struck down by a federal judge.  The Republican controlled state legislature then changed the laws allowing another round of voting.  The results were overwhelming.

Sad Start To The Work Week

15-year-old killed in hit-and-run accident
I came in Monday and was assigned to follow up on a weekend drowning.  A 14 year-old died in a condo complex pool.  That was for the 5:00 news.  Then came word that a 15 year-old died in a violent hit & run while walking across a street.  I went by the family home and spoke with two emotional aunts.  That story ran at 10:00.  The unfortunate deaths of two different teenagers became my stories for the day.

Moonshine In Memphis

Moonshine still found in Frayser man's garage
We cover drug busts in Memphis all of the time.  We're usually talking pot, cocaine, heroin, and increasingly meth.  This was the first moonshine bust for me, in Memphis.  Police say a guy admitted to making it in his garage.  One neighbor, who did not want to talk, told me he had sampled the homemade spirit.  That's something officials say can be very dangerous since the manufacturing process is not controlled.  The only comment I got from the suspect's family wasn't really a comment.. She gave me "the finger."  

Nice To Have Choices

Police search for suspects in Cooper-Young robbery, shooting
I worked on a couple of different things on this day and knew either would be a good story.  I got an exclusive interview with a lady who was "flashed" by a sex offender outside a Kroger store.  She was compelling, but we had already done a story on the guy's arrest.  So, she became a feature in the newscast. I ended up fronting a piece centered around another exclusive interview.. With one of two men robbed while walking home from a popular neighborhood bar.  

Sometimes Better To Be Lucky Than Good

Man captures downtown chaos in smartphone video
I was tasked Friday with following up on a July 4th shooting involving a 13 year-old victim.  Follows can be challenging.. Especially when a dayside reporter is already following up.  Anyway, I set about trying to find some new angle.  Luckily, the first group of teenagers I approached near the neighborhood where we heard the 13 year-old lives knew him.  I left a card on the family's door.  Then we went to Beale Street in search of random MOS (man on the street) interviews.  Luckily, one of the people we encountered shot video of teens being arrested minutes before the shooting.. And the recovery of a weapon.  Instant story.  I'm still waiting on 13 year-old to talk..

A Park Change The KKK Won't Protest

Downtown Christopher Columbus Statue May Be On The Move
This was another "un-Jason" type story I got to do on July 4th.  It concerns the possible relocation of the Christopher Columbus statue from downtown to East Memphis.  An Italian-American organization is behind it.  Fortunately, I had no trouble tracking them or a city councilman down on the holiday.  This park change comes as the city council prepares to permanently re-name 3 Confederate-themed parks.. An issue that sparked a recent KKK protest in Memphis.

Death By Cop

MPD: Suspect Killed After Shooting At Officer
I was just about to begin writing a story on a possible sales tax hike in Memphis when we learned of an incident on Parkside Drive.  Apparently, a gunman was firing at police.  My photog and I hopped in a live truck and headed out.  The alleged gunman was dead when we arrived.  It's unclear whether he wanted to die at the hands of police.  He won't be talking.  But police say someone who called 911 did report that the man threatened to shoot officers if they showed up.