In the spring of 2015, a violent act shattered the peace of a Nashville park and cut short a young life. On the evening of Saturday, April 25th, 23-year-old Rogerick Jenkins was at McFerrin Park, located near the intersection of Lischey Avenue and Berry Street. He had gathered with a group of people when tragedy struck in a sudden and brutal fashion.
Shortly before 7:00 p.m., a maroon Chevrolet Impala was seen driving on Lischey Avenue.
From within the vehicle, a person opened fire on the group in the park. The hail of bullets found its mark, and Rogerick Jenkins was fatally wounded. The shooting was a drive-by, a fleeting moment of violence that left a lasting impact on the community.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the maroon Chevy Impala used in the commission of the crime was found abandoned a short distance away. Despite this discovery, the individual or individuals responsible for the death of Rogerick Jenkins managed to evade capture. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, and law enforcement has not publicly identified any suspects in the case.
The death of Rogerick Jenkins, an African-American male, added to a growing concern about violent crime in East Nashville at the time. In the years that have followed, his case has grown cold. The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department continues to seek information from the public that could lead to a breakthrough in the investigation. To date, no arrests have been made, and the case of who killed Rogerick Jenkins remains an unsolved homicide. His family continues to await justice for their loved one, whose life was taken on a spring evening in a public park.
