In the spring of 2021, a tragedy unfolded at a Memphis gas station that cut short the life of 15-year-old Babacai Diatta. On the evening of April 14th, gunfire erupted at a Valero on Knight Arnold Road, leaving two individuals shot. Diatta was rushed to a nearby hospital but ultimately succumbed to his injuries. The other victim, 31-year-old Donterrius Johnson, an aspiring local rapper known as Mendenhall 2x, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation into the double homicide
quickly pointed to a dispute over a stolen car. Authorities revealed that a vehicle reported stolen earlier that day was allegedly driven by Diatta to the gas station. It was there that four individuals are said to have arrived and opened fire on both Diatta and Johnson, who was reportedly just leaving the convenience store at the time. Friends of Johnson maintained that he had no involvement with the stolen vehicle and was simply an innocent bystander caught in the violent act.
In the days that followed the shooting, law enforcement made several arrests in connection with the killings. One suspect, 20-year-old Noah Jones, was taken into custody and faced charges of first-degree murder and reckless endangerment. Shortly after, three other men, Deandre Wilbourne, Deonn Wilbourne, and Christopher Burkes, surrendered to U.S. Marshals for their alleged roles in the incident.
