New York, May 2, 2023—In response to news reports that a man fired a shot at the office door of the FOX13 television station around 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 2, in Memphis, Tennessee, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement:
“We are gravely concerned by a shooting at FOX13 in Memphis, Tennessee, earlier today,” said Katherine Jacobsen, CPJ’s U.S. and Canada program coordinator. “We urge local law enforcement to conduct a swift and thorough investigation into the shooter’s motives and ensure that the press can work freely without fear of intimidation.”
A report from the outlet said there were no injuries, and that the station’s employees were evacuated for about 30 minutes before returning to work. The man was armed with an AR-style weapon, and law enforcement took the shooter into custody around two hours after the shot was fired, according to those sources.
Sgt. Louis Brownlee, the public information officer and legal liaison of the Memphis Police Department, told CPJ by email that no charges have been filed and the investigation is ongoing.
CPJ’s call and email to FOX13 were not immediately answered.