A promising young life was tragically cut short on a Saturday evening in Memphis, Tennessee. Rodriques Dewayne 'Lil Rocky' Minor, a 15-year-old male, was killed on March 5, 2022, the unintended victim of a shooting in the downtown area. He was a freshman who was known as a dedicated football player and a promising student with dreams of launching his own clothing line.
On the day of the incident, the weather was pleasant, and Rodriques had gone downtown with friends to ride scooters and
enjoy the evening. Later, as he was waiting for his ride to pick him up near Riverside Drive, gunfire erupted. Rodriques was struck by a stray bullet. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but succumbed to his injuries. Another individual, a 16-year-old girl, was also struck by a bullet during the same incident but survived.
Friends, family, and coaches described Rodriques as a respectful and well-mannered young man with a bright future. He was a talented athlete, playing football since the age of six and was also a member of his high school's track team. Academically, he excelled and was reportedly ranked high in his class. He was not involved in gangs or any criminal activity, and authorities confirmed that he was an innocent bystander who was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The community was left reeling from the senseless loss of a young life with so much potential. A vigil was held in his memory, and a GoFundMe page was established to assist his family with funeral expenses. While the circumstances of his death have been detailed, information regarding any arrests or the identification of any suspects in connection with the shooting has not been publicly released. The investigation into the shooting that ended the life of Rodriques 'Lil Rocky' Dewayne Minor remains ongoing.
