A tragic incident unfolded Tuesday afternoon at Shelby Farms Park, where a 17-year-old Millington High School student was shot and killed during a senior skip day gathering.
According to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO), deputies responded to reports of gunfire around 12:15 p.m. at the park.
When authorities arrived, they found the teen suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim was transported in critical condition by the Memphis Fire Department to a nearby hospital, where they later died from their injuries.
Officials say the shooting occurred during a large gathering of students at the Woodland Discovery Playground area of the park. The event was described as a senior skip day meetup involving multiple teens.
The Shelby Farms Park Conservancy released a statement addressing the incident:
“We are aware of an incident that occurred at the Woodland Discovery Playground earlier today involving a large gathering. Shelby County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of unruly behavior, and a shooting occurred during the incident. One individual was transported to the hospital. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office is currently on site and leading the investigation. As this is an active investigation, we are deferring all questions and requests for additional information to their office.”
The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office remains on the scene and is actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting. No additional details, including potential suspects or what led to the gunfire, have been released at this time.
Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward as the investigation continues.