In December 2016, the Memphis music community was shaken by the loss of Christopher Waters, a talented and beloved 30-year-old African American male. A passionate violist and dedicated music teacher at Belle Forest Community School, Waters was known for his infectious smile and his commitment to his students. He also worked as a strings specialist at Amro Music, where he had been employed since 2010.
A native of Nashville and a graduate of the Nashville School of the Arts and the University of Memphis, he had recently purchased a home in the Raleigh area of Memphis, eager to further establish his life and career.
On the morning of Friday, December 9, 2016, a concerned coworker discovered Waters unresponsive in his home on Pipers Gap Drive. Police arrived to find that he had been shot and stabbed to death in what initially appeared to be a home invasion. His car was also missing. The brutal nature of the crime, which marked the city's 214th homicide of the year, sent ripples of fear through his quiet neighborhood.
The investigation quickly took a turn when police apprehended 22-year-old Nicholas Brooks driving Waters' car. Further investigation revealed a shocking connection: social media posts showed Waters and Brooks together, suggesting a prior relationship. This discovery shifted the police theory from a random act of violence to a targeted attack. Brooks was subsequently charged with first-degree murder. Another man, 22-year-old Ladarius Wilson, was arrested and charged as an accessory after the fact.
Over the course of the lengthy investigation, several other individuals were indicted in connection with Christopher Waters' murder. In total, five men were charged. In 2019, Nicholas Brooks was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. Another suspect, Ontario Mack, pleaded guilty to murder charges in 2023. The cases against the remaining three men, Darius Rivers, Delario Key, and Markell Hare, have faced significant delays in the court system and, as of May 2025, were still pending resolution. The prolonged legal process has been a source of ongoing anguish for Waters' family, who continue to seek full justice for his tragic and untimely death.
