Police: Man laughed after shooting woman at South Memphis club
Carloyn Thomas was at a South Memphis club during the Fourth of July holiday when she got into an argument with a man who shot her and then he walked away laughing, police said.
Thomas, 48, was taken to the Regional Medical Center where she died.
Ricky Hunter, whose nickname is “Bernie Mac” has been charged him with first-degree murder in Thomas’ death.
Hunter has refused to talk to police, but witnesses told investigators what happened the night Thomas was shot.
Thomas and Hunter were at Brenda’s Rhythm and Blues Club at 1234 Walker Avenue around 11 p.m. on July 3 when they got into an argument.
Witnesses told police that they saw Hunter punch Thomas in the face, knocking her to the ground, according to an arrest affidavit. Thomas got up and threw a beer bottle at Hunter, the bottle missed him and he then pulled a small handgun and fired several times.
Thomas was shot once in the left arm and the bullet traveled to the left side of her chest, authorities said in the affidavit.
Hunter then stood over Thomas, pointed the gun at her and pulled the trigger but the gun did not fire. Witnesses told police that they heard Hunter then say, “I could have killed her and then she would know who she is (expletive) with.”
He then smiled, walked out of the club laughing and got in a black vehicle and left, witnesses told police.
Thomas turned himself in to police on July 9 but refused to give a statement to police.
He remains in the Shelby County jail on no bond and will be in court on July 16. In addition to the murder charge, he was also charged with being a convicted felon in possession of a handgun. Police said he was convicted in 1999 in Florida for sexual battery with a deadly weapon and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.