In the summer of 2020, the life of Antoine Draper, a 37-year-old Black or African American male, was tragically cut short in his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee. On the late evening of July 30th, gunshots shattered the quiet of the Whitehaven neighborhood. When Memphis Police Department officers arrived at the scene on Parkhurst Court near Airways Boulevard, they discovered Draper suffering from fatal gunshot wounds.
The investigation into the shooting moved swiftly.
Within a few days, detectives identified a suspect in the killing. On August 2, 2020, the Memphis Police Department announced the arrest of 19-year-old Lepadro Finley. Finley was taken into custody and subsequently charged with voluntary manslaughter in connection with Antoine Draper's death.
The arrest brought a measure of progress in the case, though the circumstances leading to the violent encounter have not been publicly detailed. The community was left to mourn the loss of Draper, who was remembered by friends and family. The legal proceedings against Lepadro Finley commenced following his arrest, marking the next chapter in the pursuit of justice for Draper and his loved ones.
