In the summer of 2017, a young man's life was cut short in Memphis, Tennessee, over what police believe was a robbery for marijuana and cash. Dontae Craigen, a 21-year-old African American male, was fatally shot on July 18, 2017. The incident unfolded after an argument earlier in the day, culminating in a violent confrontation.
Craigen was visiting his father, Charles Craigen, on Wilson Street when the shooting occurred.
Shots were reportedly fired from a silver Infiniti, striking both father and son. Dontae Craigen was killed at the scene, while his father sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was transported to the Regional Medical Center for treatment. The sudden violence left the community shaken and a family grieving an immense loss.
The Memphis Police Department launched an investigation into the homicide, which led to a break in the case the following month. On August 25, 2017, authorities arrested Narquese White and charged him with first-degree murder in connection with Dontae Craigen's death. According to police, White and an accomplice had attempted to rob Craigen, and during the commission of the crime, shots were fired.
While the arrest of Narquese White brought a measure of progress in the case, the investigation remained ongoing as one suspect was still at large. To date, no other arrests have been made in connection with the shooting, and the identity of the second individual involved has not been publicly released. The case highlighted the persistent issue of gun violence in the Memphis community.
