In what should have been a straightforward sale of his red Ford Mustang, Arnold Javier Reyes-Reyes, a 20-year-old Hispanic male from Memphis, Tennessee, met a tragic and violent end on February 11, 2020. The young father was attempting to sell his vehicle when he was approached by a man who expressed interest in the car. That man, later identified as 21-year-old Edmond Knowles of Blytheville, Arkansas, initiated what would become a fatal encounter under the guise of a potential buyer.
Earlier in the day, Reyes-Reyes, accompanied by his wife and other relatives, had been at an auto parts store on Summer Avenue. It was there that Knowles first engaged with them, inquiring about the Mustang and eventually asking for a test drive. Reyes-Reyes agreed and went along as a passenger. During what should have been a routine test drive, the situation escalated horrifically. Residents in the Berclair area reported hearing the sound of gunfire and witnessing the red Mustang speeding away from the scene.
Left behind on the pavement was Arnold Javier Reyes-Reyes, discovered with tape bound around his ankles and a single, devastating gunshot wound to his head. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but succumbed to his injuries shortly after his arrival. The initial joy and anticipation of a car sale had twisted into a senseless act of violence, leaving a family to grapple with an unimaginable loss.
The investigation into the homicide moved swiftly, and approximately a week after the fatal shooting, Edmond Knowles was taken into custody by law enforcement. Following his arrest, the Shelby County District Attorney's Office pursued a grand jury indictment. Knowles was subsequently indicted on multiple serious felony charges, including first-degree murder, robbery, and kidnapping, for his alleged role in the death of Arnold Javier Reyes-Reyes.
