In the late hours of January 7, 2018, the sound of gunfire shattered the quiet of a Murfreesboro, Tennessee neighborhood, leaving a young man clinging to life. Martavious Dayquion Roper, a 20-year-old African American male, was found by Murfreesboro Police in the 400 block of Castleview Drive around 11:35 p.m., suffering from life-threatening injuries. He was rushed to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville for emergency treatment.
Despite the efforts of medical professionals, he succumbed to his injuries the following day, January 8, 2018.
The shooting that claimed Roper's life also left another man, Malik Brooks, wounded. Brooks was taken to Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital where he was treated for a gunshot wound to his leg and subsequently released. The violent incident prompted an immediate and intensive investigation by the Murfreesboro Police Department as they began to piece together the events of that tragic night. The motive for the shooting was not immediately made public as detectives worked to identify those responsible for the death of Roper and the assault on Brooks.
The investigation quickly led to the identification of several suspects. Three individuals were taken into custody in connection with the fatal shooting. One of the suspects was identified as 20-year-old James Lattimore. The other two individuals arrested were 17-year-old juveniles, and as such, their identities were not publicly released. All three were charged with first-degree murder for the death of Martavious Roper and attempted first-degree murder for the shooting of Malik Brooks.
In the initial stages of the investigation, law enforcement officials also announced that they were searching for a fourth suspect believed to be involved in the incident. However, the identity of this individual was not disclosed to the public. The investigation into the full scope of the events and the roles of all involved parties remained ongoing. The community was left to mourn the loss of a young life as the justice system began its process with the suspects who had been apprehended. Further details regarding the trials, convictions, or the current status of the fourth suspect have not been made available in public records.
