Memphis Murders Remain A Mystery

Police Say Killer Not One Of 6 Bodies Found In Home, But They Don't Know Much More

(CBS/AP) 
In a neighborhood where residents say drugs, prostitution and gang-related violence have been problems for years, people tend to keep to themselves.

"We have neighbors, but we don't get involved," Mackey said.

"They (neighbors) may be afraid to go to police," she said.

So police have gone door to door in the neighborhood looking for leads.

Billy E. Gunn, whose house is behind the home where the bodies were found, said police questioned him.

Gunn said he heard five rapid gunshots and then three slow ones around 9 p.m. Sunday. He didn't feel the need to call police because it's such a common sound.

"It wouldn't have mattered; it takes the police so long to get out here," he said.

Other neighbors have said that they recall hearing gunshots in the area of crime scene on Saturday night, which would fall within the two-day window that police have set for the crimes, between Saturday night and Monday evening, when a relative finally called police to have them check the home.

Just down the street stand three cinderblock motels, one called the Pleasure Inn, all surrounded by privacy fences. Tough-looking dogs chained in the backyards of numerous residences sent up a stream of barks and howls.

The nearest major intersection boasts automobile salvage yards on all four corners, surrounded by chain-linked fences and razor wire.

Last fall, the FBI ranked Memphis eighth in the country for reports of serious crimes per capita, though local law enforcers questioned the FBI's methodology.

Ricky Hall, 52, who lives near the home were the bodies were found, says the neighborhood has grown more unkempt and dangerous in the past few years, with many rental homes sitting empty.

He said he had no information about the case but, like his neighbors, hopes someone can provide clues to police.

"Somebody must have seen or heard something," he said.

About 30 residents gathered to pray for the victims Tuesday morning at the neighborhood's First Baptist Church - Broad Street, and about 200 attended an evening prayer service for the victims and the community.

"This is a breach in our community, and we as a church are the repairers of that breach," church member Cheri Wells said. "I feel a sense of vulnerability. I feel pain and hurt. I feel we have been robbed. Our peace has been snatched from us."

Worshippers identified by Pastor Keith Norman as relatives of some of the victims attended the evening prayer service but would not talk with reporters. Norman declined to identify them by name.

Wayne Bolden, who lives across the street from the crime scene, said the family kept to themselves but the apparent man of the house occasionally fired gunshots in the yard.

"He'd shoot on the Fourth of July and New Year's Eve," Bolden said. "He'd have company over and I'd hear the shots."

"It's a shocking situation. You don't really know how to handle it."

The weekend attack appeared to be the worst single shooting in Memphis in at least 33 years. In May 1973, a man with a history of mental illness randomly shot and killed five people, including a police officer, before he was killed by police.

More recently, a firefighter killed four people in 2000, including two other firefighters and a sheriff's deputy.

[andyli1004]

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[gunnerv1]

I am your worst nightmare.
I am everything that you hate.
I am a Gun Owner.
I am an American Fighting Man.
I am a Middle Class Conservative and,
I vote Gun issues.
I donate to the Politican of my choice,
not party.
I count myself among the Brave Men and Women
of this Great Nation that will stand up and
fight for what is right.
I will fight for my Fellow Man.
I will fight for those who are weak and tired.
I will fight for my Country and its causes.
I will fight for the Colors of this Free Nation.
I hope that the 50 Stars and 13 Stripes remain,
but I despair that there may soon be a New Flag
over these 50 states.
Long live Free

[gunnerv1]

"American Citizens are prohibited from acquiring, possessing, and carrying firearms and ammunition, as well as truncheons or stabbing weapons. Those now possessing weapons and ammunition are at once to turn them over to the local police authority.
Firearms and ammunition found in a Citizen''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''s possession will be forfeited to the government without compensation. Whoever willfully or negligently violates the provisions...will be punished with imprisonment and a fine.
Regulations Against U.S. Citizens Possession of Weapons, January 23, 2009, Democratic Minister of the Interior.

As published from the Democratic Party Manifesto, January 21,2009
IT''s Coming, and you saw it here first. Sign up for the coming civil war soon.

[gunnerv1]

SchoolLIAR (or whatever it is now)
I am your worst nightmare.
I am everything that you hate.
I am a Gun Owner.
I am an American Fighting Man.
I am a Middle Class Conservative and,
I vote Gun issues.
I donate to the Politican of my choice,
not party.
I count myself among the Brave Men and Women
of this Great Nation that will stand up and
fight for what is right.
I will fight for my Fellow Man.
I will fight for those who are weak and tired.
I will fight for my Country and its causes.
I will fight for the Colors of this Free Nation.
I hope that the 50 Stars and 13 Stripes remain,
but I despair that there may soon be a New Flag
over these 50 states.
Long live Free

[bhappy2-2]

It''s bad to live in an area where gunshots are so common they are ignored. I used to live in one of those areas. It was not unusual to hear anywhere from a few to over a hundred shots per night. Calling the police did no good; they rarely even showed up to investigate. When they did bother it was a minimum wait of forty five minutes. I armed myself and prepared for the worst. Fortunately I was able to get out of that area without having to use the gun, but I was and I am still prepared to defend myself and my family. After I left I found out that only two blocks away there were drug dealers fighting over the "best" corners for their trade. For this reason I will always prefer to be armed, always prefer to defend myself.

[orbjones]

I''m sorry, my previous post is for dan_e_graves? Please give more info on your post regarding ''controlling forces''?

thanks, OJ

[orbjones]

Hello FraiserC,

Your comment was quite compelling. Can you respond with more detail? For example, Who are the controlling forces? What type club in Memphis did you start? Please shed more light.

thanks, OJ

[gunownerdan]

The only way to stop these horrible murders is if we can get people to start respecting life whether it''s your own life or the lives of others!

[fraiserc]

The mayor of Memphis, Willie Herenton, has admitted on local tv that he has no solutions.

This story is a true story of Memphis. Memphis is a controlled city by a small number of people. I lived in Memphis and I had to leave because my own life was in Danger. I really feel that this story is about someone in this family did something that the controlling forces did not like and they were murdered alone with all the whitnesses. The controlling forces are still looking for me and people in Memphis ask my memphis friends where I am at on a daily basic. I tried to start a Club in Memphis. We were forced to Bribe the Police. We were forced to buy our products for the club outside of Memphis because the people of Memphis would sell to us because they were told to starve us out. I had 5 attemps on my life by the controlling group. This story is a good example of how Memphis works.

[ck73ia]

You spelled courteous wrong.

[robrob791]

Must have some really inteligent people on the Memphis police department to figure out the one who done this is still on the loose. Wonder how they figured that out??????

[fraiserc]

The State of Tennessee needs to take over the city of Memphis.