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Thief steals family's air conditioner

By Jamel Major - bio | email

MEMPHIS, TN (WMC-TV) - While most Mid-Southerners have the luxury of cranking up their air conditioning, one family has had to endure the scorching temperatures.

Valencia Vasquez had her air conditioner stolen last weekend, and since then, the temperature inside her apartment has reached 90 degrees.

"It's ridiculous," Vasquez said.

The apartment has become unbearable for her and her two children, a 3-month-old son and 2-year-old daughter. Vasquez said she is doing whatever she can to keep her family safe and cool.

Boy Killed as he and 2 others play with gun

A Memphis teen has been charged in a fatal shooting that happened as he and two other youths handled a shotgun in a home.

The incident occurred shortly before 7:00 p.m. Wednesday when no adults were in the home, locate din the 4200 block of Argonne.  According to police, when officers arrived at the scene, Andrew Fleming, 14, was suffering from a gunshot wound.

He was pronounced dead a short time later.

Police said investigators found that Fleming, Octavious Brooks, 14, and another boy were handling a shotgun without the knowledge of an adult when Brooks fired the shot that killed Fleming.

Police arrested Brooks, charging him with reckless homicide.

Check back for updates on this story.

Shelby County Sheriff's Department issues weekly Smart Park report

Below is the Shelby County Sheriff's Department's "Smart Park" report for the Week of May 17-May 23.

Each week, the department releases a report about motor vehicle break-ins and thefts:

6 Thefts from Motor Vehicles

13 Thefts of Vehicle Parts/Accessories  

Neighborhoods Where Crimes Occurred

Incident totals and Location   

Memphis Police Department's Crime of the Week

The following was released by the MPD as their Crime of the Week:

On Saturday, May 8, 2010, at approximately 4:00 a.m., the Mapco at 3240 N. Thomas was burglarized.  It is believed that an ATM was targeted by the suspect or suspects, but the ATM was not taken.  The burglary and suspect vehicle was captured on surveillance cameras.  

The suspects used a two-tone green and silver, 1996 Chevrolet pickup, TN license 813-TNT, to ram the building.  The pickup has an extended cab and a sticker in the right rear window.  It was reported stolen the same day from the 3800 block of Advantage Way, in the Jamesbridge Apartments.  The pickup truck has not been recovered and there have been no arrests in this case.  The pickup now has extensive damage on the rear.

Men accused of ransacking local church

Two Memphis men have been arrested, and are accused of breaking into and ransacking the Grey Road Pentecostal Church, investigators said Thursday.

Senior Pastor Don Johnson, who has built the church over the past 52 years, said he's never had a break-in as bad as this one.

"I couldn't figure out why in the world anyone would do a thing like this," he said.

Damage to the church was extensive. Sunday school classrooms were wrecked, covered in graffiti and fire extinguisher residue.

Coaches suspended after fight at Raleigh-Egypt

It was the smack heard around the campus of Raleigh-Egypt high school.

According to school officials, last week the school's head track coach and an assistant basketball coach got into a disagreement that escalated into an argument.  The argument ended with the track coach allegedly slapping the assistant basketball coach in the face.

Police search for suspect in TitleMax robbery

Police are looking for a lone suspect wanted for robbing a Memphis business last month.

According to police, on April 19, 2010, a lone male suspect entered the TitleMax at 3037 North Thomas. The suspect jumped over a desk and ordered an employee to lie on the ground at gunpoint.

After receiving the currency, the suspect left on foot in an unknown direction.

No one was injured during the robbery.