MEMPHIS, TN – A man from Tennessee, implicated in the murders of multiple women and girls in Memphis, was found dead on Sunday morning, ending a city-wide manhunt involving multiple law enforcement agencies.
The Memphis police department identified the deceased as Mavis Christian Jr., 52. His body was discovered around 3:31 a.m. inside a white Chevrolet Malibu, the same vehicle he allegedly used to escape from each crime scene. Preliminary findings suggest Christian died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
According to authorities, Christian is believed to have perpetrated three separate shootings in the city on Saturday, targeting five females in total. Four of the victims succumbed to their injuries, while the fifth remains in critical condition.
The swift location of the suspect was attributed to the combined efforts of law enforcement, the local community, and the media, which potentially prevented further loss of life, as per a statement from the Memphis police.
The initial shooting was reported on Field Lark Drive, shortly after 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. Responding officers discovered two girls and a woman with gunshot wounds. Two of the victims were declared dead at the scene, while the third was rushed to the hospital in critical condition.
Approximately an hour later, police were called to a second shooting on Warrington Road, where they found a woman fatally wounded. The third incident occurred just before 9:30 p.m. on Howard Drive, where another woman was found dead from a gunshot wound.
The police investigation linked all three shootings, leading to the identification of Christian as the primary suspect. Preliminary information suggests that the shootings were the result of a domestic violence incident, with Christian being a known relative of the victims.
The manhunt for Christian involved local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, all of whom were acknowledged by the Memphis police for their cooperation and assistance.