In the late summer of 2021, the community of Union City, Tennessee, was shaken by the violent and untimely death of Tarius Damond Lewis. A 23-year-old African American man, Lewis was fatally shot on the evening of Saturday, September 11, 2021. The incident occurred in a parking lot located at 1205 Russell Street, where police responded to a report of a shooting at 8:46 p.m. Upon their arrival, officers discovered Lewis with gunshot wounds.
He was quickly transported to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union City for medical attention. Despite the efforts of the medical staff, he succumbed to his injuries later that evening.
The investigation into the shooting was swift, and authorities soon identified a suspect. The Union City Police Department named 19-year-old Julius Lamar Thompson as the individual wanted in connection with the fatal shooting. A warrant was issued for his arrest, and the U.S. Marshals Service joined the search. The manhunt for Thompson was brief. He surrendered to authorities and was taken into custody on September 16, 2021. Following his arrest, Thompson was charged with second-degree murder and was held at the Obion County Sheriff's Department.
The loss of Tarius Damond Lewis was deeply felt by his family and friends. Funeral services were held to honor his memory on Saturday, September 18, 2021, at First Methodist Church in Union City, followed by his burial at East View Cemetery. The community mourned the loss of a young life cut short as the legal process against the man accused of his murder began to unfold.
