A quiet Midtown church parking lot turned into a crime scene Monday evening when a man was attacked with a machete near Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church. Memphis police say the victim, believed to be around 40 years old, was struck twice around 6 p.m., suffering a bruised face and a large laceration before walking on his own to Methodist University Hospital for treatment.
Investigators say the assault appeared to be unprovoked. The victim could not identify the attacker or describe what he was wearing, and authorities say they have only limited suspect information as the investigation continues.
According to Action News 5, the machete attack happened in a church parking lot on North Bellevue Boulevard around 6 p.m. Officers told the station the victim walked to the hospital after being struck twice. Detectives are asking anyone who saw what happened or has even a small piece of information to come forward as they work to develop leads.
Where the Attack Happened
The incident occurred near the Midtown campus of Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church, which lists its Midtown location at 70 North Bellevue Boulevard. Methodist University Hospital, where the victim went for care, is a few blocks away at 1265 Union Avenue, according to Methodist Healthcare. That stretch of North Bellevue, between Poplar and Madison, has been a focus of recent redevelopment and community attention, making the sudden burst of violence especially jarring.
How to Help Police
Anyone with information is urged to call the Memphis Police Department’s non-emergency line at 901-545-COPS (2677). The Memphis Police Communications page notes that 9-1-1 is reserved for emergencies, while the non-emergency number routes other tips to dispatchers and detectives…