On the evening of October 7, 2019, a tragic event unfolded in the Grahamwood area of Memphis, Tennessee, forever altering the lives of a local family. Victoria 'Vickie' Sue Leisure, a 30-year-old woman, was fatally shot while sitting in a parked car with three other individuals outside a residence on Lamphier Avenue. The incident occurred at approximately 9 p.m., shattering the quiet of the neighborhood and leaving a community in mourning.
Victoria, known for her gentle heart and love for her family and friends, was a mother to two children.
The circumstances leading to the fatal shooting suggest a targeted attack. Shortly before the incident, one of the occupants of the car had received a threatening text message. A man, later identified as 23-year-old Darius Withers, drove up to the parked blue car. He then allegedly leaned out of the driver's side window and opened fire on the vehicle's occupants. Victoria Leisure was struck by the gunfire and tragically lost her life at the scene.
In the days that followed, law enforcement launched an investigation to bring the person responsible to justice. Eleven days after the shooting, U.S. Marshals apprehended Darius Withers at a motel in Harvey, Louisiana, near New Orleans. He was subsequently extradited back to Memphis to face legal proceedings.
Following his arrest, a grand jury indicted Withers, also known as Darius Echols, on multiple serious felony charges. These charges include first-degree murder for the death of Victoria Leisure, three counts of attempted first-degree murder for the other individuals in the car, three counts of possession of a firearm in the commission of a dangerous felony, being a convicted felon in possession of a handgun, and possession of a controlled substance. Withers is being held without bond in the Shelby County Jail as the case proceeds through the criminal justice system. The prosecution is being handled by the Shelby County District Attorney's Office.
