On a summer evening in Memphis, Tennessee, what began as a routine shift for a security guard ended in a tragic and sudden loss of life. James Redmon, a 65-year-old man, was fatally shot on July 22, 2024, while at his post at the Main Event family entertainment center on Appling Farms Parkway. The incident, which unfolded around 7:15 p.m., stemmed from a workplace dispute that escalated with devastating consequences.
The series of events leading to Redmon's death began with a
disagreement with his 44-year-old colleague, Richard Lewis, over the use of metal detectors at the establishment's entrance. Witnesses reported that Lewis was visibly upset about Redmon's presence at their shared workplace and had made verbal threats against him earlier in the day. Approximately ten minutes after their initial argument, the situation took a fatal turn. Lewis drew a firearm and shot Redmon twice in the head at close range. Redmon, whose own firearm remained in its holster, died at the scene.
In the immediate aftermath, Lewis reportedly told the manager, 'He came at me, and I had to do it.' However, witness statements and video evidence of the shooting contradicted a claim of self-defense. An investigation into the incident revealed that Lewis's license to work as an armed security guard had expired in February 2024, and his application for renewal was incomplete. This rendered him legally unable to carry a firearm in his professional capacity at the time of the shooting.
Richard Lewis was subsequently arrested and charged with first-degree murder. On November 7, 2024, a Shelby County Grand Jury indicted him on this charge. He is being held at the Shelby County Jail on a $5 million bond, with a trial date set for September 4, 2026. The death of James Redmon, described as a hardworking and caring family man, has left his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren devastated.
