A shooting rocked Downtown Memphis on Saturday afternoon, claiming one life and leaving another man wounded just outside the FedExForum. The incident unfolded around 2:42 p.m. on March 22, 2025, near Second Street and Lt. George W. Lee Avenue, a stone’s throw from the bustling arena that’s home to the Grizzlies and a magnet for music fans.
Memphis Police Department officers arrived to a grim scene: two men down, hit by gunfire. One was pronounced dead right there in the street—witnesses told FOX13 they saw his body lying on B.B. King Boulevard, a chilling sight in broad daylight. The second victim was rushed to Regional One Hospital, initially listed in critical condition. By evening, though, doctors had upgraded him to non-critical, offering a sliver of hope amid the tragedy.
Police haven’t released names, ages, or what led up to the shots being fired. Was it a random act? A targeted hit? Investigators aren’t saying yet, only that they’re working the case hard. They’ve asked anyone with information to call CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH, hoping tips might crack this one open. The buzz around town—and on outlets like TMZ—has pegged the injured man as Houston rapper Sauce Walka, whose real name is Albert Walker Mondane. It’s a juicy rumor, for sure, but the MPD hasn’t confirmed it, so we’re not running with it as gospel just yet. Still, if it checks out, this story could take on a whole new dimension. For a while, the area looked like something out of a crime show. B.B. King Boulevard was closed off from Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard down to Beale Street, with police cars and fire trucks clogging the roads. WREG-TV caught the aftermath on camera—flashing lights, yellow tape, and a crowd trying to piece it all together.
The street’s open again now, but the shock hasn’t worn off. This isn’t the first time the FedExForum’s been tied to violence. Back in September 2023, a gunman opened fire inside during a Lil Baby concert, injuring one person in what police called a planned attack. They nabbed a suspect eventually. Then, in 2022, a man threatened a mass shooting outside after a Yo Gotti performance—thankfully, that got stopped before it started. Saturday’s shooting adds another dark mark to the list.
No game was scheduled at the Forum yesterday—the Grizzlies take on the Suns tomorrow, March 24—but the place is a hub regardless, with events and tourists always milling around. That’s what makes this hit so hard. The MPD’s standing firm, saying Downtown Memphis remains safe, but it’s tough to feel that way when bullets fly this close to home.
We’ll keep digging as more comes out. For now, a family’s grieving, a survivor’s recovering, and a city’s left rattled.
Stay tuned for updates.