Ezekiel “Zeke” Floyd Ochoa, a young father known for his kind heart and spirited nature, was 22 years old when his life was cut short. Born on December 2, 2003, his family remembered him as a “firecracker from birth,” a boy full of energy who was always eager to learn and be close to his siblings. As he grew, Zeke developed a reputation for generosity, a man with a "heart of gold and a truly pure soul" who would give a stranger the shirt off his back.
He loved fishing and enjoyed working with his hands, taking great pride and passion in his work. Above all, he was a beloved son to his mother, Angela Medley, a brother to five siblings, and the cherished father of his son, Elias Ochoa.
On the night of Monday, September 28, 2026, Ezekiel Ochoa was shot and killed in his community of Erin, Tennessee. The fatal encounter took place in the 2000 block of Clay Tomlinson Road in the small Houston County town. According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, preliminary information indicated that Ochoa became involved in an altercation with a juvenile. For reasons that remain under investigation, the conflict escalated, and Ochoa was fatally shot. He passed away that same day.
The following day, at the request of 23rd Judicial District Attorney General Ray Crouch, special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) began to lead the homicide investigation. Small jurisdictions like Erin, the county seat of Houston County with a population of roughly 1,200, often rely on the state agency's resources for major violent crime investigations. TBI agents collected evidence from the scene and through their investigation identified a juvenile suspect.
Shortly after the investigation began, authorities arrested the juvenile. A petition was filed charging the minor with one count of criminal homicide in connection with Ezekiel Ochoa’s death. The juvenile was taken into custody and held in a juvenile detention facility to await a court hearing. Officials did not release the name or exact age of the suspect, nor did they provide further details about what may have led to the initial altercation.
Family and friends gathered to mourn the profound loss of a man remembered for his sweet smile and silly laugh. A celebration of life service was held on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at the Chapel of Nave Funeral Home, with a burial following in Cedar Hill Cemetery. His family asked that, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the funeral home to assist with final expenses. Zeke was preceded in death by his father, Ronnie Whitehead, and his maternal grandparents.
As of October 2026, the case against the juvenile suspect was pending within the juvenile court system. The path forward depended on whether prosecutors would seek to transfer the case to adult criminal court, a process that requires a special hearing in Tennessee. The charge of criminal homicide remains an accusation, and the suspect is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. No further updates on the legal proceedings have been made public.
