Man shot outside Memphis church during car theft identified as pastor, family says
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MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Family members told FOX13 a pastor was shot at his own church before Sunday morning service.
The victim’s grandson spoke to FOX13 about what all unfolded.
17-year-old Kavion Woodin said his grandfather was trying to stop thieves from stealing a church member’s car when he was shot.
“This should be one of the things that wakes up Memphis to show that nobody’s safe,” Woodin said. “A church is one of the safest places you should be at.”
However, this weekend, church was not safe and was rather, a place where a 70-year-old pastor was shot. Woodin said his grandfather, Clemmie Livingston, was the victim of a shooting that happened on the 1800 block of Rile Street.
“Apparently, somebody tried to take one of the church member’s cars and my grandad stepped up,” Woodin said.
Memphis Police (MPD) reported getting a call to the church location at 9:13 a.m., finding a man in critical condition. According to police, the victim was shot as he came out of the church while the suspects were stealing the car.
Police said that when the suspects sped away, they fired shots hitting the victim.
“My grandad got shot in the mouth,” Woodin said.
There was limited suspect information at this time.
According to MPD, the two suspects were wearing black hoodies.
Meanwhile, as Kavion reflects on what he said happened to his grandfather, he sent a heartfelt message on constant gun violence in the community.
“I’m sick and tired of losing people to gun violence toward cars,” he said. “I lost seven friends due to gun violence. I lost two friends due to cars and I’m not nothing but 17.”
Kavion shared with FOX13, he was supposed to deliver the sermon at church Sunday morning, but when he woke up he learned of the shooting.
Ironically, Kavion said the sermon was titled “Another Chance.”
That’s exactly what it appears Kavion’s grandfather received — another chance, as FOX13 learned that Livingston’s condition was upgraded from critical condition to stable.
The Memphis Police Department released the following statement to FOX13:
“The victim was shot when he came out of the church as the suspects were stealing a 2019 silver Chevrolet Corvette. As the suspects fled the scene in the stolen vehicle, they fired shots, striking the victim. A second person who was outside of the church at the time the car was stolen returned fired after the suspects shot first. The victim was in stable condition at the last update. The vehicle has not been recovered at this time. This is an ongoing investigation.”
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