In the light of a Memphis day, the life of 31-year-old Dercedes Dockins was brought to an abrupt and violent end on November 17, 2021. The fatal encounter unfolded outside Makeda's Homemade Butter Cookies on Airways Boulevard, a place of sweet treats that became the backdrop to a bitter tragedy. In what investigators believe was a targeted attack, Dockins was shot and killed.
The immediate aftermath of the shooting launched an extensive investigation by the Memphis Police Department, who
were soon joined by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. A significant piece of early evidence came from surveillance footage which captured two individuals fleeing the scene. The suspects made their escape in a white Mercedes sedan, a detail that would prove crucial as the investigation progressed. This vehicle was later linked to a prior shooting incident in Covington, Tennessee, adding another layer of complexity to the case.
The investigation ultimately led to the identification and arrest of two primary suspects: Cornelius Smith and Justin Johnson. Both men were subsequently charged with a litany of serious offenses, including murder and conspiracy to commit murder. As the case moved through the legal system, the gravity of the alleged crime became clearer. During the ensuing trial, the court heard testimony from Cornelius Smith himself, who admitted his and Johnson's involvement in the shooting. In a startling revelation, Smith claimed they had been hired to carry out the fatal attack on Dercedes Dockins.
