More than two dozen shell casings found near Lakeland clubhouse where trio of teens wounded

Correction: The original version of this story Monday morning referred to the location as a residence before a more definite address reflected that the shooting occurred at the neighborhood association clubhouse.

More than 25 shell casings were found outside a Lakeland neighborhood clubhouse after a Sunday night dispute led to a shooting that left three juveniles attending a "Sweet Sixteen" party wounded, according to the Shelby County Sheriff's Office.

Two of the victims were transported to the Regional Medical Center in critical condition. The third was in stable condition at the same hospital, according to SCSO. A fourth teen, injured when he fled from the gunshots, showed up at Methodist Hospital-Germantown early Monday morning.

There were no suspects in custody Monday afternoon.

Lakeland Mayor Wyatt Bunker indicated the people using the clubhouse were not residents of the suburb, and that the incident was gang-related, although authorities could not confirm that connection Monday.

According to the initial offense report, the showdown began when four young men tried to enter the party, but were turned away by the honoree's grandfather. After an exchange between the group and the man, the quartet left, and a short time later shots were heard in the area.

One of the victims was shot in the lower back near his spine, and another was shot in the lower left leg. The third was wounded in the buttocks.

"We are all shocked about the shooting incident that occurred between non-Lakeland residents at a local HOA clubhouse," Bunker wrote in a Facebook post Monday morning. "Apparently this group was able to use a (resident's) name to rent the facility for a 'Sweet Sixteen Party.' A large group of teens predominantly from Cordova and Germantown High Schools attended. Gang members, who were refused entry, returned to their vehicle and began shooting at guests."

Deputies were dispatched to the clubhouse location on Matwood Oak Drive east of Seed Tick Road in the suburb about 10:30 p.m. Sunday. The subdivision just south of Lakeland Elementary School and is listed on assessor's records as owned by the Oakwood Subdivision Homeowners Association.

In the original offense report, a man said the center was rented for his grandaughter's 16th birthday party. The man and his son were watching the door when the four young men arrived. According to the report, the grandfather said he didn't allow them in because "they looked to(sic) Ghetto."

After the group left, the man reported hearing shots in the area.

Two of the victims told deputies they were sitting in the back seat of a car in the parking lot when they were shot. Witnesses saw a white car in the area at the time of the shooting.

Deputies found about 15 spent shell casings on Gillespie Oak on one side of the clubhouse and about a dozen more on the other side of the building on Melwood Oak, according to the report.

Bunker and Commissioner Matt Wright were at the clubhouse Monday afternoon and showed pictures of at least a half dozen bullet holes in the building, including one through a window, another in a downspout, and a metal railing, plus a couple in wood on the building.

Bunker said he expects the Oakwood Homeowners Association to meet regarding the incident and review its rental policies. The mayor did add that such an incident is rare in the suburb, which doesn't have its own police department, relying on the Sheriff's Office for enforcement.

Wright said the episode is not only eye-opening, but can provide direction for other gathering places, such as other homeowner association properties and the city's International Harvester clubhouse and pavilions in the suburb.

Wright, who lives in the subdivision, said his children play and ride through the subdivision all the time. Asked if the incident changes his perception of letting them roam, the commissioner replied: "It really doesn't," adding he considers it "an isolated event."