In Memphis, Tennessee, what began as a gathering of family members took a tragic and unexpected turn, ending the life of 28-year-old Gary Allen Cheatham Jr. On the evening of April 26, 2021, Cheatham was at an apartment on Grassey Hollow Drive in Parkway Village with his cousin, Christopher Lemons. The two were reportedly playing with a handgun, a situation that would soon escalate to a fatal conclusion.
According to police, Lemons was handling the firearm when it discharged.
A single shot struck Cheatham, inflicting a mortal wound. Despite the immediate medical emergency, Lemons did not call for help. Instead, he left the apartment, leaving his cousin behind. It was a witness at the scene who ultimately alerted authorities to the shooting. By the time emergency services arrived, it was too late to save the young man's life. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation that followed quickly identified Christopher Lemons, also 28 years old, as the individual responsible for the fatal shot. In the days following the incident, Lemons was located and taken into custody by law enforcement. He was subsequently charged with reckless homicide in connection with the death of his cousin, Gary Allen Cheatham Jr. The charge suggests that authorities believe the shooting was not intentional, but rather the result of criminally negligent behavior.
