In the winter of 2022, the life of a promising Memphis teenager was tragically cut short in an act of violence that shook her community. Naterria Renae Douglass, a 14-year-old Black female, was shot and killed on December 17, 2022, in the Hickory Hill neighborhood. At the time of the incident, she was a passenger in her brother's car; he was working as a DoorDash driver to help support their family. Naterria was reportedly asleep in the backseat when the shooting occurred.
In the same attack, a 17-year-old male was also killed.
The investigation into the double homicide led authorities to identify two suspects, Julius Black and Kameron Newsom. According to reports, surveillance footage captured Newsom, wearing a black ski mask and carrying an assault rifle, before the suspects allegedly followed the vehicle carrying the victims and opened fire. The pursuit of the suspects extended beyond Tennessee, culminating in their apprehension in Ohio following a police chase. Both Black and Newsom were subsequently charged with first-degree murder and other related offenses in connection with the deaths of Naterria Douglass and the other teen.
Naterria was remembered by her loved ones as a bright and ambitious straight-A student who had been running for vice president at her school. Her mother, Irene Douglass, publicly expressed her profound grief and extended forgiveness towards the accused, emphasizing a desire for healing and an end to the cycle of violence. The case has drawn attention to the issue of gun violence within the Memphis community and the devastating impact on young lives.
