In a tragic turn of events on July 28, 2025, 32-year-old Stephen 'Steve' Shepard, a male from Memphis, Tennessee, was fatally shot in the parking lot of a Wendy's restaurant on Winchester Road. The incident stemmed from a dispute involving a female employee and the restaurant's general manager, 37-year-old Darelle Bowers.
The conflict began when the female employee requested to leave her shift early, leading to a heated argument with Bowers. Feeling threatened after Bowers allegedly told her he would slap her, the employee contacted Shepard to pick her up from the restaurant. Upon Shepard's arrival, a physical altercation erupted between him and Bowers in the parking lot.
During the confrontation, Bowers, who had already called 911 to report a disturbance, allegedly brandished a handgun and instructed the employee and Shepard to remain at the scene until police arrived. Video footage of the incident reportedly shows Shepard throwing a punch at Bowers, who then appeared to fire a weapon. After Shepard was shot in the stomach and fell to the ground, Bowers allegedly approached him and slapped him in the face.
Emergency services transported Shepard to a local hospital in critical condition, but he later succumbed to his injuries. Police arrived on the scene and detained Bowers, recovering a handgun from his waistband. He was subsequently arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of Stephen Shepard.
