Shooting near Bartlett fireworks leaves 1 dead

A person died after being shot several times near a Taco Bell during the Bartlett fireworks show Tuesday night, the Bartlett Police Department said.

The victim was taken to Saint Francis Hospital - Bartlett and pronounced dead at 10:19 p.m. Tuesday.

The shooting happened at the Taco Bell at 7571 Highway 70. That’s near the site of the fireworks show, advertised at the Bobby K. Flaherty Municipal Center at Highway 70 and Appling Road.

The advertised start time was 9:10 p.m. The shooting happened about 9:37 p.m. during the show, according to a statement from police Capt. Tina Schaber.

“Officers working the event observed a fight break out in the parking lot of Taco Bell and the fight escalated to several shots being fired on the west side of the lot,” she wrote.

“The investigation has revealed so far that this was not a random shooting and the suspect and victim were known to each other and there and been previous altercations between the two.

“This is currently a very active crime scene and more information will be released at a later time.”

People with cars parked at Taco Bell on Tuesday night were asked to leave their cars there. Several were still in the lot at 11 a.m. Wednesday.

Michael Todd said he tried to retrieve his car after the fireworks display, but police told him he needed to come back at a later time because there was “evidence” in the parking lot.

“When we came up, the police tape was already around here,” he said Wednesday. “They wouldn’t let us come in. Anyone who was in the parking lot, they made them all stay in their cars and take statements from them.”

The police department is asking anyone with information to call 385-5565.

Numerous people posted on social media about hearing gunshots at the event.

Earlier in the evening, a manager at the Taco Bell confirmed by phone that someone had been taken away in an ambulance. She disconnected the call before giving her name.

Daniel Connolly and Abigail Warren