On a tragic evening in Memphis, Tennessee, the life of 21-year-old Derrick Pendergrass was cut short. On May 15, 2017, Pendergrass was one of two men who lost their lives in a double shooting at the Sycamore Lakes Apartments in the northeast part of the city. He was a Black male. The incident unfolded in the 2100 block of Westchester Circle, where authorities believe a robbery, possibly linked to drugs, turned deadly.
Pendergrass was sitting in a car with another man, 19-year-old Eric
Niles, when the robbery took place. A struggle over a firearm ensued, leading to both men being shot. When law enforcement arrived, they found both Pendergrass and Niles deceased at the scene. Investigators identified Pendergrass as the intended victim of the robbery.
In the course of their investigation, the Memphis police questioned one individual who they concluded was also a victim of the robbery. However, another suspect involved in the deadly encounter remained unidentified and at large. Eric Niles, the other deceased man, was identified by police as a suspect in the incident. The search for the remaining unknown suspect continues as authorities work to bring a resolution to the case that so violently claimed the life of Derrick Pendergrass.
