Memphis Police Investigating Three Clerk Shootings
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Memphis police said they may step up patrols at some of the city's convenience stores and other small businesses after three store clerks were shot and two of them were killed, FOX 13 News reported.
City police director Larry Godwin said there are many contributing factors for why small, family-owned c-stores become targets for criminals, including low lighting and few store clerks, usually one or two. There's also the allure of what's behind the counter.
"They deal in cash," he told FOX 13 News.
In two recent cases, gunmen demanded money and things turned violent quickly. At Food Town, one of its store clerks was shot and killed a week ago. Police said surveillance cameras caught the suspect and a getaway car on camera, the report stated.
The Food Town clerk died the same day as a clerk at Uptown Market, about a mile away. This weekend another clerk was shot at a store on East Trigg Ave. and Latham St. That clerk survived and police are still investigating the motive in the shooting.
Godwin said he’s working on an action plan following the three separate clerk shootings, two of which were fatal, and he's also asking businesses owners to do their part.
"We're going to target the hot areas," said Godwin. "We need to determine whether we want to put some sort of team together out of robbery and address this."
City police director Larry Godwin said there are many contributing factors for why small, family-owned c-stores become targets for criminals, including low lighting and few store clerks, usually one or two. There's also the allure of what's behind the counter.
"They deal in cash," he told FOX 13 News.
In two recent cases, gunmen demanded money and things turned violent quickly. At Food Town, one of its store clerks was shot and killed a week ago. Police said surveillance cameras caught the suspect and a getaway car on camera, the report stated.
The Food Town clerk died the same day as a clerk at Uptown Market, about a mile away. This weekend another clerk was shot at a store on East Trigg Ave. and Latham St. That clerk survived and police are still investigating the motive in the shooting.
Godwin said he’s working on an action plan following the three separate clerk shootings, two of which were fatal, and he's also asking businesses owners to do their part.
"We're going to target the hot areas," said Godwin. "We need to determine whether we want to put some sort of team together out of robbery and address this."