MEMPHIS, TN – The man responsible for a deadly shooting spree that left three people dead and several others injured wept as he accepted his fate in a Memphis courtroom Wednesday, pleading guilty to a raft of violent charges and receiving multiple life sentences with no possibility of parole.

Ezekiel Kelly, now 22, faced the court nearly two years after his rampage shook the city on September 7, 2022. At 19, Kelly embarked on a series of attacks that spanned across Memphis, terrifying the community as portions of the violence were broadcast live on social media.

Appearing visibly emotional during sentencing, Kelly admitted guilt to 28 charges—including several counts of first-degree murder and carjacking. As the sentence was handed down, Kelly apologized to victims’ families, acknowledging the pain caused and asking for forgiveness. He told the court he was dealing with immense personal turmoil during the night of the crimes.

The spree began in the early morning hours when Kelly fatally shot Dewayne Tunstall at a friend’s residence. Over the course of the day, he killed two more people—Allison Parker, a mother of three and medical assistant, and Richard Clark, a retired corrections officer. In addition to the homicides, Kelly wounded three others: LaKesha McGlathen, Rodolfo Zepeda, and Randall Graham, and committed a series of carjackings while evading law enforcement.

During the court proceedings, family members of the victims addressed Kelly. Aubrey Miller, a relative of one of those killed, confronted him directly and urged him to seek personal redemption. Kelly, who once smiled in his mugshot after arrest, broke down as he listened to survivors and relatives detail their grief.

The case captivated and alarmed Memphis, with law enforcement issuing urgent public safety warnings and initiating citywide alerts as Kelly moved from one crime scene to the next. Authorities said portions of the mayhem were livestreamed to a horrified online audience before the content was taken down from social media platforms.

Kelly’s arrest took place shortly before 9:30 p.m. on the night of the attacks, capping a daylong manhunt that included two carjackings and a high-speed police chase. Originally, he pleaded not guilty, but changed his plea as part of a negotiated agreement with prosecutors that removed the possibility of the death penalty.

Prosecutors said the decision to accept a plea deal was reached in consultation with victims’ families, several of whom expressed a desire for closure and to avoid prolonged court battles. The outcome ensures that Kelly will serve three consecutive life sentences plus 221 years, guaranteeing that he will never be released from prison.

Officials stressed that the resolution brings a measure of finality for the community and the families grappling with the aftermath of the attack, sparing them lengthy appeals and additional trauma.

Kelly’s actions and the harrowing day affected the entire city, with leaders and residents reflecting on the tragedy’s impact. The plea and sentencing close a painful chapter as Memphis continues to confront the legacy of that violent day.