Memphis shooting spree suspect held without bond

The suspect arrested in a seemingly random shooting spree across Memphis that sent the city into lockdown was ordered Friday to stay in jail with no bond. 

Ezekiel Kelly, 19, was charged after authorities say he livestreamed himself driving around the Tennessee city for hours on Wednesday, carjacking people and opening fire. 

He was charged with first-degree murder in the death of 24-year-old DeWayne Amir Tunstall. Police said he shot a total of seven people across the city, killing four and leaving one in critical condition.

Although he’s currently only facing charges in one of the killings — which carries the possibility of a sentence of life in prison or the death penalty — additional charges were expected.

Standing before Judge Karen Massey Friday, Kelly kept his head down and spoke softly, a sharp contrast to his demeanor when authorities say he was streaming his rampage on Facebook Live. Massey ordered he stay behind bars without bond. 

Police say Kelly started the  spree early Wednesday morning when he shot and killed Dewayne Tunstall at 12:56 a.m. in the Berclair neighborhood. The next deadly shooting happened at 4:38 p.m. in South Memphis. That was followed two minutes later with another shooting that left a person injured. 

At 5:59 p.m., another shooting in the Nutbush neighborhood left a person injured and shortly after, police say they were made aware the suspect was livestreaming the attacks and making threats to hurt people.

Map:Daylong Memphis shooting spree left 4 dead, spanned several miles, crossed state line

Officials ordered a citywide lockdown advisory at 7 p.m. that remained in effect until Kelly was arrested more than two hours later.

In that two and a half hour window, police say the suspect fatally shot someone while carjacking them. He then opened fire on two others, killing one. 

A high-speed chase started after authorities located the suspectand he ultimately was captured.

Kelly had been out of prison for less than five months at the time of his arrest Wednesday. He was previously charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault, employing a firearm with intent to commit a felony, and reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon. He ended up entering a guilty plea for the lesser charge of aggravated assault and was sentenced to three years in prison in April 2021. He served about 11 months of that sentence.