Brandon Sparks

A son, father, and loyal friend, Brandon Lamar Sparks was known for his wonderful sense of humor and his meticulous sense of style. Born in Springfield, Massachusetts, on August 20, 1983, to his parents Leroy and Nancy Sparks, the 29-year-old male was a 2002 graduate of Springfield High School. His family and friends affectionately called him "Polo B" because of his love for Polo shirts, which he owned in every color. Brandon was particular about his appearance, ensuring his white tees were always pressed and his sneakers and baseball cap matched perfectly. He was adventurous, enjoying jet skiing, motorcycles, and 4-wheelers with his companion, Natasha Little. Brandon's greatest love was for his son, Maurice. A student at Porter & Chester Institute and Brom's Barber School, he hoped to one day become a licensed barber. His family remembered him as a courageous man with a deep sense of commitment and loyalty.

Late on the night of April 10, 2013, that loyalty was silenced forever. At approximately 11:50 p.m., police responded to reports of shots fired on Kent Road in Springfield. When they arrived, they found Brandon in the driver's seat of his Acura. He had been shot multiple times through the car's window. After the shooting, the vehicle had crashed into another car parked in the driveway of a duplex at 121 Kent Road. A resident of the home, awakened by the crash, called 911 expecting a drunk driver but went outside to find Brandon on the ground, his leg still inside the car. First responders performed CPR before transporting him to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. Investigators noted four bullet holes in the driver's side window and another in the rear window.

The investigation into Brandon Sparks' murder is handled by the Springfield Police Department's Detective Bureau. In the immediate aftermath, police stated they believed the homicide may have been drug-related, noting that drugs were found inside the vehicle. It was also reported that Brandon had survived a previous shooting in 2009 that had claimed the life of his friend. That case also remains on the Hampden County District Attorney's list of unsolved crimes.

Two years after the murder, in the summer of 2015, a mysterious and aggressive campaign to find Brandon’s killer emerged. Large placards appeared on Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA) buses throughout Springfield, asking "Do you know who murdered me?" and offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible. The ads, which directed tips to Crime Stoppers, local police, the FBI, or Tipsoft, were placed by an anonymous source. Social media accounts under the name "Chauncy Brookdale"—the names of two streets near the murder scene—were created to circulate the reward poster. When asked about the ads, Brandon's father, Leroy Sparks, said he was not "at liberty to discuss" their origin but was hopeful they would generate new leads.

Years have passed, but the family continues to remember Brandon through memorial posts on his birthday and the anniversary of his death. A message from his parents on what would have been his 39th birthday read in part, "Happy Birthday and always loved unconditionally, your Parents and Family." Another from his companion Natasha ended with, "I draw a circle, not a heart, around your memory, my one true love. I know now a heart can break, but a circle goes on forever more."

As of October 2025, the murder of Brandon Sparks remains an unresolved homicide. The case is listed on the Hampden County District Attorney’s website as an open investigation. No arrests have been made, and no suspects have been publicly identified. The Springfield Police Detective Bureau continues to ask for the public's help. Anyone with information is encouraged to call them at 413-787-6355.