Memphis Police: Gang Initiations Targeting Women

SUMMARY: Email hoax warns that women will be targeted for gang initation violence in Memphis, Tennessee in December 2007

Description: Email hoax
Circulating since: July 2005
Status: False

Email example contributed by a Yahoo user, 14 Dec. 2007:

Subject: Memphis Police Department Alert My brother just called, who is Memphis Police Officer. He said let everyone know that Memphis Police Department received an alert this morning from a reliable source that a Gang Initiation is starting today and will be going until the end of December. The gangs are instructed to ask someone for directions and then shoot them. He says they seem to be targeting women. Everyone pass the word, and be careful.

Comments: False. This is a fresh variant of an older rumor that first circulated in the Memphis area in July 2005. In the original version it was claimed that a mother and small child would be killed at a local Wal-Mart store as part of a gang initiation rite. No such crime took place.

The 2007 version, circulating via both email and text message, purports to share information received from a Memphis police officer to the effect that local women will be targeted for gang initiation shootings during the month of December. According to the Memphis Police Department and Shelby County Sheriff's Office, the warning is a hoax and should be disregarded.

Email This Article

Sources and further reading:

Police Say Gang Initiation Email a Hoax
Eyewitness News, 14 December 2007

Police Downplay Gang Initiation Rumors
WMC-TV News, 14 December 2007

2005: Threat of Gang Initiation Killings in Memphis
Netlore Archive, 20 July 2005

Last updated: 12/14/07

Current Hoaxes / Netlore
The Urban Legends Top 25

David Emery
Urban Legends Guide

Sign up for My Newsletter

Discuss in my forum