In the early evening of a mid-May day in Memphis, Tennessee, what began as a disagreement over a cell phone repair tragically escalated into a fatal encounter for Rashid Tony Awwad. On May 15, 2017, the 27-year-old male was at his job at a Boost Mobile store located on Winchester Road. An argument ignited inside the shop between Awwad and a group of individuals who had come in for a phone repair. The dispute became heated enough that Awwad requested one of the men to leave the premises and instructed the group to come back the following day to retrieve the phone, making it clear that the ejected individual was not welcome back.
Shortly after the group departed, Awwad stepped outside of the storefront for a cigarette break. In a sudden and violent turn of events, he was confronted by the same man he had earlier asked to leave. Another member of the group, a 22-year-old man named Damon Johnson, then pulled out a firearm. Johnson proceeded to shoot Awwad multiple times in the back. The gunshots shattered the evening's calm, leaving at least six bullet holes in the front of the store. Witnesses reported seeing people running from the scene as the sound of gunfire erupted. The suspects were seen fleeing toward the New Horizon Apartments across the street. Emergency services were called, and Awwad was rushed to a nearby hospital in extremely critical condition, but he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
The Memphis Police Department launched an investigation into the homicide. Their efforts led to the arrest of Damon Johnson, who was subsequently charged with second-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of Rashid Awwad. The investigation revealed that the shooting was the culmination of the argument that had started inside the cell phone store.
In October 2019, a Shelby County jury found Damon Johnson guilty of second-degree murder. Following his conviction, the court sentenced him to 24 years in prison. Johnson later appealed the court's decision, but the judgment of the trial court was affirmed, ensuring that he would serve his sentence for the senseless act of violence that cut short the life of Rashid Tony Awwad.
