A 29-year-old resident was arrested; officers later logged six firearms, about 90 pounds of marijuana and $5,000 in cash.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Officers responding to reports of gunfire at the Greenline Apartments on North Highland Street on Tuesday night entered a unit to check for “signs of life,” then obtained a warrant that led to the seizure of roughly 90 pounds of marijuana and several guns, authorities said.
The discovery came during a week of stepped-up responses by the Memphis Safe Task Force to repeated gunfire calls near apartment complexes. Investigators said they first documented bullet strikes to a front window, then shifted to a criminal search after seeing a handgun in “plain view” during the welfare check. Police identified the resident as Dontario Woody, 29, and said he was arrested after the search. The find underscores how a single shooting call evolved into a larger drug and weapons case that now moves into court review and lab testing.
Police were dispatched shortly after nightfall on Jan. 13 to the complex near the High Point Terrace area. Officers saw a window “hit multiple times by gunfire,” according to their account, and knocked several times with no response. They entered to ensure no one was injured, an officer wrote, describing the entry as a safety check. Inside, they met Woody, who said he lived in the unit. The handgun visible inside prompted a pause in the check. “We secured the room and sought a warrant,” the officer’s narrative said, outlining the decision to step out and wait for a judge’s approval.
With a warrant in hand, investigators searched the apartment and said they recovered two more handguns and more than a pound of marijuana packaged for storage. A broader sweep by task force agents later turned up six firearms in total, approximately 90 pounds of marijuana and about $5,000 in cash counted at the scene. No injuries were reported from the earlier gunfire. Police did not immediately identify a suspected shooter, nor did they say whether they believe the shots were tied to the drugs or a separate dispute. The apartment’s damaged window and portions of a front room were photographed for the case file, officers said.
The complex sits along a busy corridor near schools, small businesses and the Greenline trail. Neighbors said officers arrived quickly, taped off the area and moved residents back as the search unfolded. One man living across the courtyard said he heard “several pops” and saw people ducking behind cars before sirens grew louder. Another resident said officers kept asking whether anyone had seen visitors entering the unit earlier that evening. The building remained under watch into the early morning as investigators boxed items and loaded them into evidence vans.
Police said Woody was booked on a $15,000 bond while detectives finish cataloging the guns and marijuana. Next steps include sending samples to a lab, running serial numbers on the firearms, and preparing an evidence list for prosecutors. A charging decision on potential felony counts—such as possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and firearm offenses—will be reviewed this week. Detectives are canvassing the property and nearby storefronts for security video that could show the person or people who fired into the window on Jan. 13.
The case lands at a time when city leaders have pressed for faster responses to gunfire calls at large complexes and for closer coordination between patrol officers and task force teams. Residents around North Highland Street say they have reported sporadic late-night shots over the past year, but few scenes have produced large evidence hauls like this one. People interviewed Wednesday and Thursday described relief that no one was hurt, along with worry about what triggered the burst of gunfire. “It was loud and fast,” said a woman who lives one building over. “Then it was lights everywhere and officers telling us to stay back.”
By Sunday, evidence from the apartment had been logged, and the unit’s damaged window was still boarded over. Police said the public should expect an update once lab testing, firearm traces and charging decisions are complete, or if a suspect is named in the shooting that started the call.
Author note: Last updated January 18, 2026.