In a tragic turn of events on January 9, 2016, 22-year-old Joe Fifer of Memphis, TN, was fatally shot and killed. The incident also claimed the life of his 26-year-old girlfriend, Tamara Davis, who was pregnant at the time. The couple was discovered in their apartment in the 4700 block of Haven Court at the Tulane Apartments.
According to police reports, the violent encounter began with a knock on the back door of their apartment. When Fifer answered, he was immediately met with gunfire.
Davis was also shot, and both were pronounced dead at the scene. The unborn child did not survive.
The investigation into the double homicide led authorities to identify multiple suspects. In February 2016, 24-year-old Gerald Shields was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder. According to an arrest affidavit, Shields confessed to police that he and two other men had planned to rob Fifer. He detailed that after he knocked on the door, the other two men rushed in and began shooting.
The following month, a second suspect, 22-year-old Juvonta Carpenter, was also taken into custody and charged with two counts of first-degree murder. An affidavit stated that Shields identified Carpenter as the individual who forced his way into the apartment and shot Fifer. A witness also identified Carpenter in a photo lineup. Carpenter declined to provide a statement to the police regarding the shooting. Both men were booked into the Shelby County Jail.
