By FireRescue1 Staff
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A firefighter died from a gunshot wound after two men fighting outside of a nightclub shot at each other.
WMC Action News reported that New Orleans firefighter Gregory Howard, 37, was standing outside of the Mynt Lounge when a fight from inside spilled into the parking lot. The two people began shooting at each other, and Howard was hit.
“It’s very unfortunate,” Memphis Police Officer Clarence Campbell said. “Just trying to get through. We just trying to press through. All our prayers go out to the family, to the New Orleans Fire Department, to the city of New Orleans and the City of Memphis. We lost a great guy.”
Howard was a nine-year veteran of the New Orleans Fire Department.
Police said Howard was in Memphis to play in a basketball tournament set up by the Memphis Police Department. The New Orleans team dropped out of the tournament after Howard’s death, but the other players decided to play on in honor of Howard.
“Talking to the players, they said, ‘keep going please, let’s have it again next year, we’re doing this for him,’” Campbell said.
Police are currently investigating the incident. We will update you when more information becomes available.