In the early hours of April 21, 2026, the life of 35-year-old Clyde "CJ" Ray Nichols Jr. was tragically cut short in a shooting that unfolded in the Frayser neighborhood of Memphis, Tennessee. The incident, which took place around 6:20 a.m. in the 1100 block of Frayser Boulevard near Millington Road, left the community shaken and authorities searching for answers.
When Memphis Police responded to the scene, they discovered Nichols unresponsive.
Despite the efforts of emergency medical personnel, he was pronounced dead at the scene from gunshot wounds. The initial investigation provided few leads, and the motive behind the shooting remained unclear in the immediate aftermath.
However, the investigation progressed, and six days later, on April 27, 2026, an arrest was made in connection with the fatal shooting. The Memphis Police Department, along with the U.S. Marshals, took 40-year-old Trey Murphy into custody. Murphy was subsequently charged with second-degree murder in the death of Clyde Nichols.
While the arrest brought a sense of resolution to some, the circumstances that led to the violent encounter between Nichols and Murphy have not been publicly detailed. Information regarding a possible motive or the nature of the relationship, if any, between the two men has not been released by law enforcement officials. The case against Trey Murphy is expected to proceed through the court system.
