Greater Memphis Chamber president and CEO Phil Trenary was shot and killed Thursday, Sept. 27, on Front Street south of G.E. Patterson near Central Train Station.

Memphis police arrived on the scene of a shooting at 579 South Front at about 8:30 p.m. Shortly after 10 p.m., police said the victim was pronounced dead at Regional One Health. 

"It is with sad hearts that we confirm that we have lost our leader and friend," Chamber officials said in a statement. "Our President and CEO, Phil Trenary, died this evening. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Trenary family."

The Memphis police Twitter account said the "suspect was possibly occupying a white pickup truck w/an extended cab & antenna. This is an ongoing investigation. Anyone w/info should call Crime Stoppers @ 901-528-CASH.”

The suspect was described as an African-American man with dreadlocks, wearing a blue shirt, in a white four-door F150 truck, the MPD Twitter account continued.

Keith Burks was out on the patio at Max's Sports Bar on Front Street when he saw a "swarm" of police cars zoom down the street.

"I thought an officer had been shot with that many police cars. It is sad that this happened," Burks said. "This is crazy."

This is the 10th homicide in the last four days in Memphis.

At the time of the shooting, the Chamber was hosting its annual Move It Memphis 4-Mile race, which began and ended at Loflin Yard on Carolina Avenue.

"This is obviously a difficult situation," the Chamber statement continued. "We appreciate your patience and respect during this challenging time. We will provide more details as they are available."

Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland said he was "shocked at the senseless loss tonight of Phil Trenary, a leader in our community."

"More than anything in these hours, my thoughts are with his family and his Chamber colleagues," he said in a statement on social media. " I'm in close contact with MPD, which is leading a thorough investigation."

Recently-elected Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris said Trenary's death is "a terrible loss."

"It’s hard to learn of the passing of Phil Trenary, someone who made so many contributions during his life," Harris said. "He made his mark in business and in service. And right down to his core, he believed in our community’s potential. I will pray for his family."

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam said, “Our hearts are broken with the news of the loss of Phil Trenary. Phil has been a wonderful friend to Crissy and me and a great advocate for Memphis. Our hearts go out to his family and his associates and the Memphis community.”

St. George's Independent School released the following statement: "The St. George’s community is shocked and saddened to hear the tragic news of former St. George’s parent and trustee, Phil Trenary. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time."

In a statement on social media, Ralph Schulz, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce CEO, said: "We extend our deepest condolences to Phil Trenary's family and the Memphis community. Phil was a great partner and a great believer in the future of Memphis and the state. He will be missed by those who worked with him in his community and across TN. "

Kenneth Robinson, president and CEO of the United Way of the Mid-South, wrote in a Tweet that he met with Trenary earlier this week to discuss how United Way and the Chamber could work together for the betterment of the community.

"Shocked, I join our corporate community and all who love Memphis in grieving the sudden and tragic loss of Phil Trenary."

MLGW president and CEO J.T. Young said Trenary was among the first business leaders to welcome him to Memphis.

"His love for Memphis and our business community was immeasurable," Young said. "The loss of this giant business leader will be very difficult for our community to overcome. Phil's death was tragic, senseless and a painful loss."

Trenary, 64, was named CEO and president of the Chamber in June 2014. He guided the launch of the Chamber’s Chairman’s Circle, a group of more than 100 business leaders working together to bring transformational change in the greater Memphis region.

Before joining the Chamber, he was the CEO of Memphis-based Pinnacle Airlines Corp., a regional operator for Northwest Airlines, for 14 years. He led the growth of the airline from about $75 million in revenue when he took over in April 1997 to a $1.2 billion publicly traded company.

Trenary founded Lone Star Airlines in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1984 and was its president and CEO for 14 years before coming to Memphis.

Trenary moved Pinnacle’s headquarters from the Memphis International Airport area to Downtown Memphis in the late 2000s, providing a boost to the Downtown office market, which was seeing its share of company office departures to East Memphis.

Northwest Airlines then began curtailing regional operations and reducing its use of Pinnacle, which eventually led to Pinnacle filing bankruptcy and becoming a subsidiary of Delta Air Lines.

After leaving Pinnacle, Trenary opened his own airline consulting company, Phil Trenary & Associates, in Memphis in 2010.

He earned a degree in Aeronautical Engineering Technology from Oklahoma State University.