In the summer of 2016, a promising young woman's life was tragically cut short in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Ashley McKenzie, a 20-year-old Black female, was fatally shot in the early morning hours of June 13th. A member of the Army National Guard and a graduate of Chattanooga Central High School, McKenzie was known for her bright and outgoing personality.
On the night of the incident, McKenzie was visiting a friend at a home on Cambridge Drive.
Around 1:30 a.m., a knock was heard at the door. When McKenzie went to answer it, she was shot once in the head. Witnesses at the scene reported seeing a Black male fleeing in a red four-door Ford sedan immediately after the shooting.
Law enforcement officials quickly began an investigation into the homicide, which they believed to be gang-related. Investigators stated that they did not think McKenzie was the intended target of the attack, suggesting she was an innocent victim caught in a senseless act of violence. In the months that followed, the Chattanooga Police Department continued to seek leads, and a year after her death, Crime Stoppers issued a plea to the public for any information that could lead to the killer. They offered a cash reward for tips that would help them piece together the events of that fatal night.
Despite the ongoing investigation and the public appeals for information, no arrests have been made in connection with the murder of Ashley McKenzie. The case remains unsolved, leaving her family and community still searching for answers and justice for the young soldier whose life was taken so unexpectedly.
