Midtown Memphis shooting on Poplar Avenue leaves one man critically injured as police detain another

What happened

A shooting in Midtown Memphis left one man hospitalized in critical condition and prompted a police investigation near a busy corridor of Poplar Avenue.

Officers were dispatched on the morning of December 5, 2025, to the area of Poplar Avenue and Cleveland Street after receiving a report of a shooting. When officers arrived, they located a man suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to a hospital and listed in critical condition.

Police said one man was detained in connection with the incident. Authorities did not immediately release the names or ages of the people involved, nor did they specify whether a firearm was recovered at the scene.

What is known — and what remains unclear

• Confirmed: Police responded to a shooting call at Poplar Avenue and Cleveland Street in Midtown.

• Confirmed: A man was found shot and taken to the hospital in critical condition.

• Confirmed: A man was detained as the investigation proceeded.

• Unclear: The circumstances leading to the shooting, including whether the individuals knew one another.

• Unclear: Whether the detained individual will be charged and, if so, what charges may be filed.

Why the investigation may take time

In shootings where initial information is limited, investigators typically work to establish a timeline through witness interviews, surveillance footage from nearby businesses or intersections, and physical evidence collected from the scene. Any later charging decision generally depends on whether investigators can identify a suspect’s actions, confirm intent, and determine if any legal defenses are being raised.

Police have not publicly released a motive or a detailed sequence of events in the Poplar-and-Cleveland shooting.

What residents can expect next

Police updates in the days following a shooting often focus on whether the victim’s condition changes, whether the detention leads to formal arrest and charges, and whether additional witnesses or evidence emerge. Investigators may also seek public help if they believe others saw the incident or captured video.

For now, the case remains an active investigation, with one victim in critical condition and one person detained while authorities work to clarify what led to gunfire along Poplar Avenue.