4 Memphis Shootings Suspected To Be Latino Street Gang Related

Image Credit: Memphis Police Department & U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement

The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –

In the early morning of January 3^rd, four shootings occurred within two hours of each other, and the Memphis Police Department (MPD) suspects the shooters could be tied to the Latino street gang “Sur13 loco”.

The first two shootings took place between 5 and 6 a.m. where two cars were shot. Then at approximately 6:12 a.m. another car and home were targeted, where seven people were inside the car and home at the time. The fourth incident occurred just 10 minutes later as another home, also occupied by seven people, was hit. 

MPD relayed that all the victims involved were Hispanic, the gunmen used the same vehicle in all four shootings, and threats made to one victim implied the shooters could be linked to the Sur 13 gang, also known as “Sureños” in homage to the Mexican Mafia. 

The Sur 13’s main stronghold is in Southern California, hence the moniker “Sureños”, which is Spanish for “Southerners”, but the gang supposedly has a heavy presence in California, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, and Utah.

They have been confirmed in 35 states and parts of Mexico and documented in the U.S. military, found in both U.S. and overseas bases, with connections to various Mexican-based drug trafficking organizations. 

The gang also has ties to the Gulf Cartel, an international syndicate which, along with drug trafficking, conducts numerous criminal activities like protection rackets, assassinations, extortions, and kidnappings. Sureños have also been known to be involved in assaults, robberies, home invasions, carjackings, and a heavy amount of human trafficking. 

In April of 2014, a month-long operation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) resulted in the arrest of over 600 gang members from 145 different gangs across 179 US cities. More than 73% of those arrested were members or associates of Sur 13. The HSI’s report on the operation stated, “Membership and cliques associated with the Sureños are expanding faster than any other national-level gang in the United States.”

The Memphis shootings come on the heels of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s (TBI) announcement that the violent Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua (TdA) has resurfaced in Tennessee, though TBI director David Rausch seems to now be rescinding some of his former statements to downplay the precarious state of the gang’s activity in the state.

According to a letter to state Rep. John Ray Clemmons (Dem.- Dist. 55- Nashville), Rausch is now claiming there were never, “any violent encounters we were aware of with this gang in Tennessee,” and that statements he made about the high level of threat the gang posed were only based on “trends and intel” obtained by the TBI. 

Rausch’s letter directly contradicts his prior report to the governor where he vividly described TdA’s progression from human trafficking into organized retail theft and onwards to more violent paths. “They are very violent…they are here and they are in numbers here,” he said. 

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Additionally, on an episode of Senator Marsha Blackburn’s “Unmuted with Marsha” podcast from December,  approximately the same time he wrote his letter, Rausch stated there has been a resurgence of TdA activity over the past few months and confirmed, “they are operating in our state”.  

TBI Director Divulges More Info About Violent Venezuelan Gang In Tennessee

TdA members have recently been arrested or had activities noted in police reports in Tennessee. 

Illegal Venezuelan Tren De Aragua Gang Member Arrested In Chattanooga

Memphis Police Report Tren De Argua Gang Incidents

Rep. Clemmons responded to the letter, stating Rausch, “Drastically walked back his representations about the (gang’s) violent criminal activity which were clearly intended to scare the bejesus out of Tennessee families. This is odd because the TDA is a real threat to public safety if it, in fact, has as significant of a presence here as the director insinuated.” 

He also said the letter sends the message that Rausch wants nothing but money from the legislature as Rausch indicated he was not seeking help from the assembly to address the issue other than support for more operating funds.

There is no clear answer at this junction as to why Rausch would suddenly reverse his stance on the severity of gang activity in the state, especially as plenty of reports and evidence exist to support his claims. 

Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.