On a late Tuesday evening in Memphis, Tennessee, the life of 26-year-old Vallen Reann Conner was tragically cut short in a burst of gunfire. A Caucasian female, Conner was sitting in her car on Fizer Street in the Orange Mound neighborhood on May 22, 2018, chatting with a co-worker who had just arrived. The night was shattered when a light-colored SUV, possibly a Chevrolet Trail Blazer, drove past and unleashed a volley of shots.
Conner was struck in the shoulder, and despite the swift arrival of paramedics, she succumbed to her injury within 15 minutes. Her co-worker was also wounded, shot in the foot, but survived the violent encounter.
Vallen Conner, born on January 14, 1992, in Corinth, Mississippi, had spent most of her life in Hardin County before moving to Shelby County. She was known for her vibrant personality, with a passion for singing, dancing, playing the guitar, and working out. At the time of her death, she was working as a waitress at Joe's Crab Shack and as a barista at Starbucks. Friends and family remembered her as a beautiful soul with a loving heart and a spectacular personality.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Memphis police investigators determined that Vallen Conner was an innocent victim, not the intended target of the gunmen. The investigation quickly led to the identification of three suspects, all reported to be known gang members. First-degree murder warrants were issued for the arrests of 26-year-old Ladarius Wiggins, 28-year-old Cortez Williams, and 37-year-old Stanley Hibbler. Detectives believed that two of the three men in the SUV had fired their weapons.
Despite the identification of the suspects and the issuance of warrants, the case has grown cold over the years. Law enforcement officials have repeatedly appealed to the public for any information that could lead to arrests and bring closure to Conner's family. The investigation into her senseless death remains ongoing, with authorities urging anyone with knowledge of the incident to come forward. To date, no arrests have been publicly announced, and the individuals suspected of ending a young woman's life remain at large, leaving a grieving family still waiting for justice.
