In the midst of the early days of the pandemic, on April 5, 2020, a Memphis family was irrevocably shattered. Earl Diggins, a 37-year-old Black male, was found deceased in his vehicle in the 6400 block of Knight Arnold Road in the Hickory Hill neighborhood. Responding to a 911 call about gunfire, Memphis Police discovered Diggins in the front seat of his car, having succumbed to a fatal gunshot wound.
The vehicle had crashed into the front gate of the Legacy Apartments.
The ensuing investigation has been a long and arduous journey for Diggins's loved ones, particularly his sister, Josetta Kelly. Two and a half years after her brother's death, she remains a vocal advocate for justice, adamant that his killing was not a random act of violence. Kelly firmly believes that the person responsible for her brother's death was known to him, suggesting the shooter was a passenger in the back seat of his car. She posits that envy or jealousy may have been the motive, and that the act was a premeditated plan, possibly involving more than one individual.
As of October 2022, the search for the perpetrator or perpetrators continues, with no arrests having been made in the case. The Memphis Police Department has appealed to the public for any information that could lead to a breakthrough in the investigation. A reward is being offered for any tips that result in the arrest of the individual or individuals responsible for the death of Earl Diggins. His family continues to hope that someone will come forward with the information needed to bring them a sense of peace and closure.
