BROWNSVILLE — Alexis Branch was gunned down in the apartment she shared with her mother, Carmen Johnson, and her daughter, Maliyah, in Brownsville, Sunday.
Branch was 24, Johnson, 43, and Maliyah is just 8-years-old. The identities of the victims were confirmed by Police Chief Barry Diebold this afternoon.
Maliyah and Johnson were also caught in what must have been a hail of bullets. Maliyah is suffering serious facial wounds. She was flown to a Memphis hospital last night. Johnson was struck by bullets but has already been released from the hospital.
Police also confirmed that Branch, who was pronounced dead at the scene, was pregnant.
Law enforcement and EMS were called to Tammbell Street Apartments at 9:10 p.m. Sunday night, December 1. They found the three wounded victims inside of their home but the shooter was gone.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) arrived at the scene last night and have continued their investigation today, according to Diebold.
The chief won’t speculate on why the assault occurred, but says investigators are still collecting evidence that could lead them to a suspect. Early on police were looking for a man they were told drove away from the scene in an older model Cadillac, but Diebold confirmed that man is not a suspect and is not being sought.
In a news release issued by the TBI, agents say the suspect was captured on camera leaving the scene. He is described as a black man, 5’3” to 6’ tall and weighing between 200 and 220 pounds.
Additional photographs have been posted to the Brownsville Radio Facebook page and brownsvilleradio.com.
The release also states that Maliyah is suffering “widespread paralysis.”
Meantime, social media posts indicate vigilantes claim they know who fired the shots and plan street justice. In a conversation with Brownsville Radio this afternoon, Chief Diebold urged those who have information to instead call the confidential Crimestoppers line at 772-CASH.
“It’s very frustrating,” Diebold said. “There are those who say they know, yet they won’t tell us.”
(PHOTO: Person of interest wanted in shooting, Sunday)
