In the early morning hours of June 25, 2014, the life of 32-year-old Cedric Mikes, a Black male, was tragically cut short in Chattanooga, Tennessee. What initially appeared to be a car accident took a sinister turn when responding officers made a grim discovery. Mikes was found deceased inside a vehicle that had gone down an embankment off the roadway.
Upon closer examination, it became evident that he had been the victim of a homicide, having been shot to death.
The investigation into Mikes's death unfolded over a period of time, revealing a connection to organized crime within the city. In a significant development, three individuals were identified and charged in connection with his murder. Cordelle Collier, Martrel Arnold, and Johnny Clemons were arrested and faced charges for the murder of Cedric Mikes. These arrests were part of a larger federal operation targeting members of the Chattanooga Bloods street gang, which resulted in numerous members being indicted on RICO charges, including multiple murders.
