In the midst of rush hour traffic in Memphis, Tennessee, on October 6, 2021, LaDarius Dewayne Spates, a 26-year-old male, was tragically shot and killed in an apparent act of road rage. Spates was in his vehicle near Interstate 40 and Sycamore View when an unknown individual opened fire, striking him multiple times. Following the shooting, his car crashed.
Family members remember Spates as a devoted father to his three-year-old daughter and a hardworking man with no known enemies.
On the evening he was killed, he was on his way to have dinner with a friend. His mother, Sharon Ward, has spoken of the immense pain and heartbreak her family has endured, describing her life as having been 'crushed' by the loss of her son. She has made heartfelt pleas to the community for any information that might lead to the apprehension of the person responsible for this senseless act of violence.
The investigation into the death of LaDarius Spates was still active months after the incident, with the Memphis Police Department seeking assistance from the public to identify a suspect. As of early 2022, his killer remained a mystery, and no arrests had been announced in connection with the case. The family continues to await justice, holding onto the memory of a young father whose life was cut short in a moment of violence.
