In the late hours of a Thursday in Memphis, the city was on the verge of marking another grim statistic in a year plagued by violence. It was around midnight on December 29, 2016, at the intersection of Vance and Lauderdale, that 39-year-old Derrian Poplar’s life was tragically cut short. He was discovered lying in the street, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
Despite the immediate response from emergency services, Poplar succumbed to his injuries at the scene, becoming the city's 225th homicide victim of the year.
The investigation into the shooting painted a picture of a robbery that escalated to murder. According to police, a black vehicle approached Poplar, and an individual exited the car. The assailant then walked over to Poplar, robbed him of his wallet, and proceeded to shoot him. The cold-blooded nature of the crime sent ripples of fear and anger through the community.
Within a short period, law enforcement officials made a breakthrough in the case. They arrested and charged 28-year-old Tizerius Farmer in connection with the fatal shooting. The specific charge brought against Farmer was first-degree murder, indicating the premeditated nature of the alleged crime. The swift arrest brought a small measure of solace to a grieving family and a city weary of the escalating violence that had characterized the year.
