Elijah Hyman

Memphis police arrest white man suspected of planning mass shooting

By Edward Era Barbacena

Tennessee police arrested a white man who planned to carry out a mass shooting after a Memphis event over the weekend, officials said Saturday.

Memphis police arrested Elijah Hyman, 28, at his apartment on a charge of commission of the act of terrorism, according to police. Police arrived at about 2:48 a.m. on Saturday after receiving an armed mental consumer call, and they found Hyman apparently distraught after breaking up with his girlfriend, who was also at the house, according to officials.

“Officers were advised that since Hyman and his girlfriend's relationship was coming to an end, he wanted to kill himself and everyone he saw coming from an event being held at the FedEx Forum,” police said in a statement. “Hyman was bleeding from his right hand as a result of being cut from a glass window inside of his apartment.”

The intended date of the attack was not clear, although Memphis rapper Yo Gotti seemingly indicated his "Birthday Bash" concert, held on Friday at that arena, was the target.

"We were informed of a potential threat regarding an individual seeking to harm attendees leaving [the] Birthday Bash that occurred 3 hours after our show ended," Gotti said in a tweet. "I would also like to thank the Memphis Police Department for their swift and proactive action in ensuring that all attendees returned home safely."

Hyman was detained by police before being taken for medical treatment and a mental health evaluation, police said.

Officers found and confiscated several weapons inside Hyman’s home, the statement said. Officials also contacted the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to investigate the incident.