MEMPHIS, TN – The multi-agency manhunt for Mavis Christian Jr., the 52-year-old suspected of carrying out the killings of three women and injuring two girls in a series of shootings in Memphis, ended on Sunday. Christian was found dead from an alleged self-inflicted gunshot wound in a car in the 3000 block of Alta Road, Memphis, as reported by the Memphis Police Department.
The search for Christian began after police established a connection between the shooting death of a woman on Howard Drive on Saturday evening and other killings that occurred that day.
Based on the preliminary information, authorities believe these incidents were instances of domestic violence, perpetrated by Christian, who was known to be related to the victims. He had reportedly fled each crime scene in a white 2017 Chevrolet Malibu.
One of the shootings on Fieldlark Drive resulted in the death of a woman and a 13-year-old girl and left a 15-year-old girl critically injured, according to Memphis Police Department spokesperson Christopher Williams. Another woman was killed in a separate shooting incident nearly 13 miles away on Warrington Drive.
The authorities have yet to officially identify the victims or provide details regarding their relationship to the suspect. Local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies actively participated in Christian’s pursuit.
Memphis police acknowledged the collaborative law enforcement effort, the community, and the media for their role in quickly locating the suspect and potentially preventing the loss of more lives.