Darrius Wadley, an 18-year-old Black male, was a student at Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis, Tennessee. His life was tragically cut short in the spring of 2025, along with that of his friend and fellow student, 17-year-old Christian Brown. Brown was a senior who was getting ready for his prom and graduation, with dreams of joining the Navy.
On the afternoon of April 24, 2025, gunfire erupted in the South City apartment complex at Mississippi Boulevard and Lauderdale, just
steps away from the high school campus. According to authorities who reviewed surveillance footage, an Infiniti vehicle pulled into the complex before four armed suspects got out. The individuals walked through the complex and opened fire, striking both Wadley and Brown multiple times.
The Memphis Police Department’s investigation into the double homicide led to a swift arrest. Valdemar Patterson, 18, was taken into custody and charged with two counts of first-degree murder. Investigators announced that they were actively searching for three other individuals believed to be involved in the shooting.
In May 2025, a judge found probable cause in the case against Patterson. Citing the seriousness of the charges and public safety concerns, the judge ordered him to be held without bond. The case was then referred to a grand jury for indictment. The following month, the U.S. Marshals Service announced that two more suspects, Demanuel Jackson and Mario Simmons, had been captured in Middle Tennessee in connection with the murders.
As of June 2025, three of the four suspects were in custody as the case against them proceeded through the court system. Authorities were still searching for the final suspect involved in the deaths of Darrius Wadley and Christian Brown. Anyone with information regarding the case is asked to call CrimeStoppers at (901) 528-CASH.
