Memphis police: Shooting at Lil Baby concert at FedExForum 'believed to have been premeditated'

One person was shot during the Lil Baby concert Thursday night at FedExForum in Memphis, according to the Memphis Police Department.

Memphis police said officers responded to the shooting at the Downtown venue at 10:23 p.m. and a male shooting victim was located and transported to Regional One Health in critical condition.

In a press release Friday morning, the victim's status was upgraded to non-critical, and the shooter has still not been identified.

No other injuries were reported.

MPD Public Information Officer Sgt. Louis Brownlee said Thursday night the identity of the shooter was unknown, adding it was also unknown if the shooter and victim knew each other, how many times the victim was shot and how many shots were fired.

In Friday's statement, MPD said they now believe the shooting was planned.

"Based on our preliminary investigation, the shooting is believed to have been premeditated, and the victim targeted," MPD said. "There were no other injuries resulting from this senseless act, where thousands of concertgoers were in attendance."

Brownlee also said it was not immediately clear how the gun got inside FedExForum. Those attending concerts at the venue go through a metal detector before being allowed entry. Friday morning, MPD added that FedExForum "contracts with a private security company that screens patrons for weapons."

"The Memphis Police Department is investigating the incident to identify and apprehend the shooter," MPD said in Friday's statement. "We are working closely with FedExForum management and their contracted security company to resolve this issue."

Lil Baby was rushed off the stage during the middle of the song "Frozen" at about 10:20 p.m.

FedExForum security rushed into the pit and appeared to be treating someone on the other side of the stage. At about 10:25 p.m., people were being told to evacuate FedExForum.

At 1:30 p.m. Friday, Lil Baby said in a tweet he would be refunding all of the attendees for having to evacuate.

FedExForum issued the following statement: "A person was shot tonight at FedExForum during the Lil Baby concert. The incident is under investigation and we are fully cooperating with the Memphis Police Department."

MPD urges anyone with information about the potential shooter to call CrimeStoppers at (901)528-2274.

Shootings inside major concert venues are rare in Memphis, nationwide

While incidents like this have been rarely seen in Memphis, or in other cities, at larger venues, Downtown and Beale Street-area clubs have been affected by gun violence.

The former Club Plush/Club Crave, located just a few blocks away from FedExForum at 380 Beale St., was shut down twice due to violence, and ultimately permanently closed in 2012. Between 1992 and 2012, 21 people were shot in and around the venue.

Club Plush was initially closed in July 2011, after a financial lawsuit was filed against its owner, George Miller, and a nuisance complaint was filed by the District Attorney’s Office. However, the club reopened under new management and a new name, Club Crave, two months later. But the disruptions and shootings continued over the next year-plus.

Even as an Organized Crime Unit investigation was opened into the venue, police made 54 responses to Club Crave and over 175 arrests between 2011 and 2012.

More: Man shot during Lil Baby concert in Memphis: What to know

The final straw came after a December 2012 shooting at the venue, during a party thrown by rapper Yo Gotti, which left one man dead, and two others injured. Within days, then Shelby County District Attorney Amy Weirich, Memphis Mayor AC Wharton and Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong announced they were shutting down the club as a “public nuisance” ― getting a court order to close all commercial operations at the club.

The venue sat dormant for several years before East Coast promoter Steve Adelman announced he was seeking to reopen the club in 2014 as part of his nightlife efforts in Downtown Memphis, which included reviving the New Daisy Theatre.

As part of a deal with city officials, Adleman agreed to a series of conditions to reopen. This included not hiring any staff convicted of a felony or drug or gang-related offenses, employing licensed security to undergo specialized training with the Multi-Agency Gang Unit and a promise to provide secure, lighted parking and maintaining safe exteriors and common areas around the venue. Despite this, Adelman never reopened the venue, and it has sat dormant for over a decade.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

Jordan Green covers trending business news for The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached via emailJordan.Green@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter@_green_jordan_

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Lil Baby concert shooting at FedExForum 'premeditated': Memphis police