Suspect in fatal downtown shooting allegedly shoots man outside hotel security

Megan Fayard and Quametra Wilborn

14 hours ago

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — One man is dead and another faces a first-degree murder charge following a shooting on Main Street Friday morning.

Karl Loucks is accused of fatally shooting a man outside a Courtyard by Marriot in downtown Memphis.

Police say the shooting happened shortly before 3 a.m. The victim, identified by police as Shaun Rhea, was transported to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

A hotel security guard told police he observed Loucks armed with a knife, pepper spraying Rhea. He said he took out his cell phone and began recording the suspect in an attempt to scare him away.

Loucks allegedly returned to his apartment and Rhea began cleaning his face with pepper spray. Loucks then returned from his apartment with a rifle covered in an orange jacket and began shooting Rhea.

The victim, who was apparently unarmed, was shot several times during the incident.

The security guard also informed police that there had been several incidents involving Loucks attacking homeless people in the area. Memphis police have not given a motive for the shooting.

Many homeless people in Court Square Park say Loucks is well known.

“He’s one of the worst people I’ve ever seen. The worst,” said one homeless man. “He's nitpicking, and you know, he'll just start walking up to them and start arguing with them for no reason.”

A neighbor who did not want to be identified said she often found Loucks' behavior disturbing.

“He just liked to pick on the homeless community,” the neighbor said. “He came over and started bragging about how he liked bothering them. He just thought they should get off the street, I guess, but he… it was like fun for him, that's the impression I got.

Investigators found a name on the mailbox at the apartment building where Loucks was last seen, which helped them identify him as a suspect. The security guard was also able to identify Loucks in a six-person photo op as the man responsible for the shooting.

Those living on the streets say more needs to be done to protect the homeless community.

“There’s so much going on here right now. It's like these guys and women are here late at night and it's like you don't know what's going to happen sometimes,” the homeless man said.

Karl Loucks is scheduled to appear in court Monday. His bail has not yet been set.