As students and faculty members were leaving the Southern lot Friday night, Tyrin H. Parker was being arrested near the same area after firing a handgun six times.
Memphis Police Department police detective Monique Martin said both MPD and University of Memphis Police Services received calls about the shooting around 5:45 p.m. and were given a description of the 34-year-old suspect who was firing shots at Southern Avenue and Houston Street.
Police Services arrived on the scene to find Parker lying on the street with his shoes off.
"That area is where a lot of faculty members drive, so he was stopping traffic," Martin said.
U of M Police detained Parker until MPD came and arrested him around 6:30 p.m.
Parker's gun was discovered in the Southern parking lot and a witness at the scene said he saw the gun and six shell casings on the hood of a police car after Parker had been apprehended.
U of M students Andrew Baines and Demitrio Frazier live in the Southernwoods Apartments that are located at 592 Patterson.
Frazier said he heard the shots from his apartment. By the time he got to his window, Parker was in the street.
"We didn't see anyone hurt, and we didn't hear anyone scream," he said. "He was walking around like normal, not like he was trying to hide anything."
Baines, a graphic design major, was walking outside when he heard the shots. Baines said Parker's hand was in the air, and smoke was coming out of it, so he assumed Parker was holding a gun.
Baines said Parker threw the item he had in his hand into the parking lot on Southern and then proceeded to lie in the middle of the road.
"It was almost like he wanted to get hit," Baines said.
Baines said Parker even tried to put himself under a stopped car by attempting to climb under its tire.
"I could hear him yelling, but I couldn't understand what he was saying," Baines said.
Parker was charged with possession of a handgun while intoxicated, public intoxication and disorderly conduct.
"His speech was slurred, and officers could smell alcohol on him," Martin said.
No one was injured. Parker was taken to 201 Poplar Avenue, and his bond was set at $27,500.
