Deadly Incidents at Wendy's in Memphis and St. Louis

Two deadly incidents have occurred at Wendy's restaurants in different states. In Southeast Memphis, Tennessee, general manager Darelle Bowers was charged with first-degree murder after fatally shooting Stephen Shepard, who had arrived to pick up a female employee and was shot following a physical altercation in which Shepard allegedly swung at Bowers. Witnesses and video footage corroborate the sequence of events, and Bowers is awaiting arraignment while the investigation continues. In St. Louis, Missouri, a dispute between two Wendy's employees led to one employee being stabbed and the other being shot to death; the stabbing victim's condition is currently unknown as police investigate. Wendy's has expressed deep sadness and is cooperating with authorities in both cases. The company has emphasized its zero-tolerance weapons policy and commitment to de-escalation training.