An honest and family-oriented man, Sidney Daniel De'Andre Martin was known for his ability to make people smile and for giving the best advice. The 33-year-old male cared for his family with all his being and made a point to check in on everyone he could. His loved ones remembered him as a respectful and loving young man who left a huge impact on everyone he met.
A cousin recalled that his death was met with "so much confusion" and that the lack of answers hurt the family deeply.
Born on February 8, 1993, Sidney was a devoted father to his two-year-old son. He also leaves behind his loving mother, a brother, and many nieces, cousins, aunts, and uncles who cherished him. A family member organizing a fundraiser after his death wrote that Sidney believed people should never let things they can’t control cloud their minds. She added that he would want his loved ones to remember him with joy, because he was now "home and safe." He was remembered for his warm presence and the genuine care he extended to all who knew him.
On the evening of Tuesday, October 6, 2026, the Memphis Police Department received a call about a shooting at Cherokee Park. The park, a community green space in the Cherokee neighborhood of Memphis, is located near several residential streets. Officers were dispatched at 7:03 p.m. to the 2900 block of Filmore Avenue, which runs along the northern edge of the park. When they arrived, they discovered Sidney suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Despite the immediate response from emergency services, his injuries were too severe. Sidney Martin was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation into the homicide was immediately launched by the Memphis Police Department. Detectives from the homicide bureau cordoned off the area in Cherokee Park to search for evidence and canvassed the surrounding neighborhood for witnesses. They worked to piece together the events that led to the fatal shooting, trying to understand what Sidney was doing in the park and what precipitated the violence. In the days following the incident, police confirmed that they had not yet identified a suspect and that no one had been taken into custody. The motive for the shooting remained unknown to the public.
The case has left Sidney's family with painful and unanswered questions. His cousin expressed the profound grief and confusion the family felt, stating, "WE HAVE NO ANSWERS WHY! SO, IT HURTS TWICE AS BAD." The sudden and violent nature of his death left a void in the lives of his relatives and friends. To help with the unexpected funeral expenses and to provide future support for Sidney's young son, his family created a GoFundMe campaign titled "In Loving Memory of Sidney Daniel Martin." The organizer thanked donors for their prayers and support, noting that any contribution meant the world to his family during their time of immense grief.
A visitation for friends and family was held on the morning of Friday, October 23, 2026, at Serenity Funeral Home on Sycamore View Road in Memphis. The funeral service followed immediately after at the same location, where loved ones gathered to celebrate his life and mourn his passing. He was laid to rest at Pleasant Rest Memorial Gardens in Millington, a nearby suburb of Memphis.
As of October 2026, the investigation into Sidney Martin's murder is ongoing and remains unsolved. The Memphis Police Department continues to seek information from the public that could lead to an arrest. Police are urging anyone who may have seen or heard anything in or around Cherokee Park on the evening of October 6, 2026, to come forward, no matter how insignificant the detail may seem. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH.
