Just days before Christmas, on the evening of December 19, 2016, a tragedy unfolded in South Memphis that left a family grieving and a community searching for answers. Frankie Sanders, a 55-year-old African-American male and a Navy veteran, was in front of his own home on Lucy Avenue when he was gunned down. The attack was brutal; he sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
When police responded to the scene, they found Mr. Sanders grievously wounded.
The peaceful neighborhood was shattered by the violence, and neighbors would later wash the blood from the porch where their friend and neighbor had fallen. Despite the swift arrival of emergency services, Frankie Sanders' injuries were too severe, and he was pronounced dead.
In the years that have followed, the case of Frankie Sanders' murder has remained unsolved. The Memphis Police Department has continued to investigate the homicide, but the individuals responsible for this violent act have not been publicly identified. No arrests have been made, and no suspects have been named, leaving the motive behind the shooting a painful mystery. The search for justice for Frankie Sanders continues, with law enforcement appealing to the public for any information that might lead to a breakthrough in the case. His death adds to the number of unresolved homicides in the city, a stark reminder of the devastating impact of gun violence.
