In the early morning hours of September 19, 2021, a tragic event unfolded in a home on Macon Road in the Berclair area of Memphis, Tennessee. Leander Maxwell, a 38-year-old Black male, and his wife, 33-year-old Keisha Marshall, were fatally shot by their roommate, 34-year-old Michael Barkley. The couple's young son was present in the home at the time of the shooting and was awakened by the sound of gunfire.
The violent encounter occurred around 4 a.m., shortly after Barkley had been
informed that he would need to move out of the residence by the end of the month. In their bedroom, Barkley shot Leander Maxwell twice and Keisha Marshall four times. Despite their severe injuries, the couple managed to flee the house. Maxwell made it to a nearby gas station to seek help, but Marshall collapsed on the sidewalk. Both were rushed to the hospital but ultimately succumbed to their injuries. Before he died, Maxwell was able to identify Barkley as the shooter to investigators.
Later that same morning, law enforcement located and arrested Michael Barkley at a relative's home in the Binghampton area. At the time of his arrest, Barkley was found to be in possession of a gun. During questioning, he confessed to the shooting. Investigators also discovered that Barkley had a prior conviction for aggravated burglary in 2018.
The Shelby County District Attorney General's Office indicted Michael Barkley on two counts of first-degree murder and employing a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony. He is being held without bond. The case gained significant attention due to the brutal nature of the crime and the fact that the couple's child witnessed the horrific event, telling police he saw 'Mike' standing over his mother with a gun. The legal proceedings against Barkley are ongoing as the community seeks justice for the deaths of Leander Maxwell and Keisha Marshall.
