In the early morning hours of July 1, 2016, the life of 23-year-old Roan Gardner Jr. was tragically cut short in his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee. A young man known to his loved ones as 'Cooper Lee,' he was a father to two sons and a 2011 graduate of Bolton High School. He had a passion for installing electronic systems in cars and had earned a forklift certification in 2015.
The unfortunate events unfolded in the parking lot of a convenience store located in the 2700 block of Kimball.
Shortly after Roan pulled up to the store, an argument ensued, escalating to a fatal conclusion. He was shot in the chest, and the incident was captured on the store's surveillance video. The shooter fled the scene, leaving behind a family to grapple with a sudden and devastating loss.
The investigation into Roan's death led authorities to identify a suspect. In March of 2017, the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force and the Memphis Police Project Safe Neighborhoods Task Force apprehended Rodricus Mason at an apartment near the scene of the crime.
In April 2018, a grand jury indicted Rodricus Mason on charges of second-degree murder in connection with Roan Gardner Jr.'s death. Mason, who was 24 at the time of the indictment, also faced a felony charge of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. He was held without bond pending further legal proceedings. The case was assigned to the District Attorney's Special Prosecution Unit, which focuses on seeking maximum sentences for repeat felony offenders.
