William Edward Statler, a 48-year-old white male, was fatally shot in the head on November 18, 2018, while standing at the Graham Food Mart in Memphis, Tennessee. Statler, a carpenter and a U.S. Marine veteran, was reportedly shot without any provocation or prior confrontation. The entire incident was captured on the store's video surveillance system.
The video footage showed the suspect, later identified as Elim Diaz, approach Statler, retrieve a gun from an accomplice, and shoot
Statler in the head. After the shooting, Diaz handed the gun back to the accomplice, and they both calmly walked away from the scene. The lack of any apparent motive or interaction between Statler and his assailant made the crime particularly unsettling.
The day after the shooting, Elim Diaz turned himself in to the police, accompanied by his lawyer. He confessed to the murder but offered no explanation for his actions, stating that there was no provocation. Diaz was subsequently charged with first-degree murder. His accomplice, Alfredo Oporto, was also arrested and faced charges of tampering with or fabricating evidence, accessory after the fact, and facilitation of first-degree murder. The investigation revealed no prior connection between Statler and the two suspects.
