In the early morning hours of January 9, 2026, a fateful decision to avoid a minor traffic stop tragically ended the life of 42-year-old Rodriquez Poplar in Memphis, Tennessee. Poplar and his wife, Sheila Booker, were driving when they noticed police lights. Concerned about a broken headlight and expired tags, Poplar pulled into a nearby driveway on North Trezevant Street to avoid a potential encounter with law enforcement.
The homeowner, identified as Tommy Applewhite, emerged from the
residence armed and confronted the couple, demanding they leave his property. The situation quickly escalated when Applewhite allegedly pointed the gun at Sheila Booker's face. In an act of protection, Rodriquez Poplar got out of the car and positioned himself between his wife and the armed homeowner. It was at this moment that Applewhite reportedly shot Poplar in the stomach.
Officers who were nearby and had heard the commotion arrived at the scene in less than a minute to find Applewhite still armed. They took him into custody without further incident. Paramedics rushed Poplar to the hospital, but his injuries proved to be fatal, and he died shortly after arrival. His wife, Sheila Booker, credits the swift arrival of the police with saving her life.
Tommy Applewhite was arrested and is facing multiple charges, including second-degree murder. It was later revealed that Applewhite has a significant criminal history in Shelby County dating back to 2001. His past offenses include a conviction for attempted murder in 2007, for which he served three years in prison, as well as multiple drug and gun-related offenses. At the time of the shooting, Applewhite was on active probation for a 2022 gun charge. Just a week after the incident, Applewhite was released from jail after posting a $50,000 bond, a development that shocked and further grieved Poplar's family.
