Joshua Stallworth

On a late summer morning in Memphis, Tennessee, the lives of two young fathers were violently extinguished, leaving their families shattered and a community searching for answers. Joshua Stallworth, a 22-year-old Black man, was known to his loved ones as funny, smart, and reliable. He was the father of a newborn son, just six weeks old, and his friends and family remembered him as someone who would help a person in need. His life, full of promise, ended in a hail of bullets on Friday, August 26, 2016.

Just before 11 a.m., Memphis police responded to a shooting at the Wingood Manor Apartments in the 3500 block of Wingood Circle. Arriving officers discovered a chaotic scene with two victims. Joshua was found lying in the street, having sustained a fatal gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The second victim, 30-year-old Irving Guy, was found shot in his side on the floor of an upstairs apartment. Guy was rushed to the Regional Medical Center in critical condition, but he succumbed to his injuries a short time later. Together, the two men left behind seven children.

In the immediate aftermath, grieving family members rushed to the apartment complex. Joshua’s girlfriend, Unique White, the mother of his infant son, learned of the tragedy after seeing a post on Facebook. "It said he was shot and he was gone," she recalled. Irving Guy’s sister-in-law, Jasmine Nathan, said he had gone to the apartments to meet someone when "something happened." She described Guy as a good person who didn't bother anyone. The motive for the shooting was unclear to investigators, who believed the suspect or suspects had fled the scene before police arrived. No description of the perpetrator was released to the public.

The Memphis Police Department launched a double homicide investigation, canvassing the large apartment complex for evidence and witnesses. Investigators acknowledged there were at least two separate crime scenes within the complex but believed the shootings were connected. They expressed hope that surveillance footage or cell phone video might emerge to provide clues. The Wingood Manor Apartments had a reputation for criminal activity, and the shooting amplified residents' concerns about safety and security at the property.

In the years since the killings, the investigation has grown cold, and no arrests have been made. The families of Joshua Stallworth and Irving Guy are left without justice or a sense of closure. Joshua's obituary, published in The Commercial Appeal, noted his death at the age of 22 and the funeral services handled by E.H. Ford Mortuary. Online memorial pages show an outpouring of grief and love from friends and family, with messages expressing how much he is missed. "I find myself searching the crowds for your face," one loved one wrote. "I know its an impossibility, but I cannot help myself." Another message mentioned his son, saying, "Hayden looks more and more like you and your mom everyday."

The case of who killed Joshua Stallworth and Irving Guy remains unsolved. The Memphis Police Department has not publicly identified any suspects or persons of interest. The lack of resolution means the person or people responsible for this brutal act of violence have not been held accountable. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities urge anyone with information to come forward. A reward may be available through Crime Stoppers for information leading to an arrest. Anyone with knowledge of the case is asked to call (901) 528-CASH.