15-year-old boy shot at Memphis Sonic next to Kirby High School ‘targeted’, police say

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A teen hit by gunfire at a popular Memphis fast-food restaurant just feet away from a high school was targeted, according to the Memphis Police Department (MPD).

MPD said the shooting happened at a Sonic on Kirby Parkway around 2:40 p.m. Wednesday.

That Sonic is right down the street from Kirby High School.

Memphis-Shelby County Schools confirmed that the shooting did not take place on the Kirby High School campus.

When FOX13 crews arrived, the glass of a Sonic window was shattered from the shooting, surrounded by crime scene tape.

That 15-year-old boy was rushed to Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in critical condition, police said. As of about 4 p.m. Thursday, police said the boy was still hospitalized and his condition was updated to non-critical.

Police said that those suspected to be involved in the shooting knew the boy and that the shooting was targeted.

MPD said five men wearing ski masks are responsible for shooting the child.

Those men took off in a grey four-door Mercedes, police said.

Sonic gave FOX13 the following statement regarding the shooting: “We are aware of the incident that occurred at one of our franchised locations. The franchisee is actively cooperating with police fully as they conduct their investigation. Given that this is an active investigation, we defer any further comment to the police.”

Chloe Wilborn, a Hickory Hill resident and mom, said that hearing about the recent children shot in Memphis had her shaken.

“It’s heartbreaking, it’s very heartbreaking, it actually makes me want to leave,” she said.

When asked about what she wants to change, she added, “These adults, I’d like to see them face responsibility, a harsher crime or punishment for things that happen because a lot of these kids are getting these guns from adults.”

The shooting marked the seventh child in 10 days who had been shot in Memphis, police said Wednesday.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH and may be eligible for a cash reward up to $2,000.

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