In the early morning hours of February 7, 2021, a sense of unease settled over a south Memphis intersection. It was there, at the corner of Horn Lake and Dixie Road, that the life of Sonia Starks, a 49-year-old African American woman, came to a violent and tragic end. Responding to a shooting call just before 1:00 a.m., Memphis Police officers arrived to find a Ford Escape stopped at the intersection.
Inside the vehicle, they discovered Sonia, who had sustained a fatal gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The circumstances leading to the shooting remain unclear, as investigators have not publicly released specific details about what may have transpired in the moments before her death. The community was left with a lingering sense of concern and a desire for answers that have yet to come. The lack of information regarding a potential motive or any individuals who may have been involved has been a source of ongoing frustration and sorrow for those who knew her and for the wider Memphis community.
To date, no arrests have been made in connection with the homicide of Sonia Starks, and no suspects have been publicly identified. The Memphis Police Department's investigation into her death is ongoing, and they have urged anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward and assist in their efforts to bring a resolution to the case. The appeal for community involvement underscores the critical role that public cooperation can play in solving such violent crimes and in the pursuit of justice for victims like Sonia.
