In the days leading up to Thanksgiving, a shopping trip to the Wolfchase Galleria in Memphis, Tennessee, turned tragic for 23-year-old Erik Sandoval. On November 17, 2025, Sandoval was fatally shot inside the mall, an event that would lead to the arrest of 22-year-old Yahir Mejia. The incident unfolded as a violent encounter between the two men, leaving one dead and the other facing a murder charge.
According to investigators, Mejia shot Sandoval during a confrontation at the mall.
In the aftermath, Mejia and his girlfriend, who was with him at the time, returned to their apartment before Mejia switched vehicles. He was later apprehended by the Memphis Safe Task Force at his mother's home following a brief chase. Mejia has since been charged with second-degree murder in connection with Sandoval's death.
During a preliminary hearing in early December 2025, further details of the events surrounding the shooting emerged. Mejia claimed that he acted in self-defense, alleging that Sandoval had approached and punched him. However, prosecutors stated that surveillance footage did not support his account of the events. Mejia's girlfriend testified that she witnessed the shooting and knew he was armed. She described the fatal moment as both 'a surprise and not a surprise.' It was also revealed in court that Mejia was already out on bond for a separate case and had a criminal history that included theft, drug, and firearm charges. A judge determined there was enough evidence to send the case against Yahir Mejia to a grand jury. Private funeral services for Erik Sandoval were held on November 22, 2025.
