A man from Tennessee, suspected of fatally shooting multiple women and girls in Memphis, was discovered dead on Sunday morning following an extensive search by multiple law enforcement agencies. The Memphis police department identified the man as 52-year-old Mavis Christian Jr., who was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in the early hours of the morning in the white Chevrolet Malibu he had used to escape the scenes of the shootings.
On the previous day, Christian Jr. was alleged to have shot five females at three different locations across the city. Four of the victims succumbed to their injuries, while the fifth is currently in critical condition. The police department credited the swift location of the suspect to the combined efforts of law enforcement, the community, and the media, which they believe prevented further loss of life.
The first shooting was reported on Field Lark Drive just after 5:30 p.m., where officers found two girls and a woman suffering from gunshot wounds. The woman and one of the girls were declared dead at the scene, while the other girl was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. Approximately an hour later, police responded to another shooting on Warrington Road, where a woman was found dead from a gunshot wound.
The third shooting occurred on Howard Drive just before 9:30 p.m., where another woman was found dead from a gunshot wound. The police department, through its investigation, linked the three shootings and identified Christian Jr. as the suspect in all of them. He was considered armed and extremely dangerous during the search operation.
Preliminary information from the police suggests that the shootings were the result of a domestic violence incident, with Christian Jr., a known relative, fleeing each scene in the Chevy Malibu. The manhunt involved local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. The Memphis police department expressed gratitude to all the agencies for their cooperation and assistance. The investigation into the shootings is still ongoing.