Crime
Ricardo Contreras Mendoza, the man who caught Quadruple murder suspect Austin Drummond
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The manhunt for quadruple murder suspect Austin Drummond came to an end Tuesday morning after he was captured by a Jackson resident, identified as Ricardo Contreras Mendoza, according to law enforcement.
Ricardo Contreras called police this morning when he saw Austin Drummond walking in the woods.
Drummond had been the subject of an intense, multi-agency search following the August 1 discovery of four family members fatally shot in Lake County, Tennessee.
The weeklong manhunt reached a critical point Tuesday after Drummond was spotted in a residential area of Jackson, Tennessee, prompting a shelter-in-place alert for residents near Saddlebrook Drive and Bridlepath Drive.
The Jackson Police Department issued a public safety message urging residents to:
“Shelter in place immediately. Lock all doors and windows, remain indoors, and avoid unnecessary travel.”
Authorities also blocked off roads in the Pleasant Plains and Country Club area as the search intensified.
Law enforcement said Ricardo Contreras Mendoza played a pivotal role in Drummond’s apprehension.
Details surrounding the exact circumstances of the capture have not yet been released, but officials confirmed that Mendoza was instrumental in spotting and detaining the fugitive until police arrived.
Drummond had evaded capture since last Tuesday, when he allegedly killed four relatives in Lake County. His abandoned vehicle was discovered in Jackson on Friday, leading authorities to believe he was hiding somewhere in the area.
On Sunday night, a home surveillance camera captured footage of Drummond on Pipkin Road, wearing camouflage, a backpack, and carrying a rifle. In one clip, he could be seen attempting to open a door.
The manhunt resulted in heightened police presence near Pleasant Plains Extension and Oil Well Road, as well as a temporary lockdown at Union University on Monday as sightings continued to pour in.
Authorities are now working to piece together the timeline of Drummond’s movements over the past week and determine whether anyone may have assisted him while he was on the run.
The Jackson Police Department is continuing its investigation and encourages anyone with further information to call 731-425-8400.
Crime
16-year-old Khyon Smith-Tate found shot to death inside Chipotle bathroom on edge of Temple University’s campus in North Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA — A 16-year-old boy was fatally shot inside the bathroom of a Chipotle restaurant near Temple University’s campus in North Philadelphia on Monday afternoon, police said, as students and staff returned for the first day of the Spring 2026 semester.
The shooting occurred at approximately 5:00 p.m. inside the Chipotle located in the 1100 block of West Montgomery Avenue, on the ground floor of The View at Montgomery apartment complex. The building is situated near Temple University’s Student Center and TECH Center.
Police later identified the victim as Khyon Smith-Tate, a North Philadelphia resident. Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said Smith-Tate was found with a gunshot wound to the chest and was pronounced dead at 5:24 p.m.
Temple University President John Fry and Vice President for Public Safety and Chief of Police Jennifer Griffin issued a joint statement following the incident:
“The loss of life to gun violence is a profound tragedy, and there are no words that can make sense of it. Our thoughts are with the victim’s family and loved ones.”
According to investigators, Smith-Tate and another minor entered the restaurant and requested access to the restroom. Chief Inspector Small said the shooting is believed to have occurred inside the bathroom.
Moments later, employees discovered Smith-Tate suffering from a gunshot wound. Police recovered one spent shell casing from a semiautomatic weapon inside the restroom.
Although the victim’s last known address was approximately eight blocks from the scene, authorities have not indicated what brought him to the location or what led to the shooting.
At the time of the incident, the restaurant was crowded, and multiple individuals inside the business were detained briefly for questioning. However, police said they have not yet obtained any statements from witnesses who reported hearing a gunshot.
A person of interest was taken into custody several blocks from the scene shortly after the shooting, but Chief Inspector Small said that individual’s involvement remains unclear.
As of Tuesday, police confirmed that no arrests have been made and no motive has been established.
Investigators believe Smith-Tate entered the restroom with another minor, though the whereabouts of that individual remain unknown.
Police are also seeking information about three possible suspects, described as teenagers carrying backpacks.
Chief Inspector Small noted that the area is equipped with numerous surveillance cameras, which detectives are reviewing as part of the ongoing investigation.
Authorities are asking anyone with information related to the incident to contact the Philadelphia Police Department.