In the spring of 2014, the city of Memphis was marked by the unsolved deaths of two older African American men, their final moments shrouded in mystery that endures to this day. While online sources do not contain information about a death matching the name General Perkins, the cases of Henry Hammond and Charles Jordan, who were of a similar age and died within weeks of each other, remain open wounds in the city's memory.
Henry Hammond, a 65-year-old man, was found in his home on Station Way on the afternoon of Thursday, May 8, 2014. A concerned individual had arrived at the residence to find the door ajar. Stepping inside, they discovered Hammond, bleeding and unresponsive. He had been shot. Despite the arrival of paramedics, his life could not be saved, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. The circumstances surrounding his death suggested a violent and sudden end to his life, leaving behind questions that have yet to be answered.
Just over two weeks later, on Sunday, May 25, 2014, another tragedy unfolded. Charles Jordan, a 66-year-old man, was the victim of a fatal stabbing on Marble Avenue. When police responded to a call for an aggravated assault, they found Jordan grievously wounded. He was rushed to Regional One Health in critical condition, but the efforts to save him were in vain. He succumbed to his injuries at the hospital, his death adding to the city's growing list of homicides for the year.
To date, public information does not indicate that any arrests have been made or suspects identified in connection with the deaths of either Henry Hammond or Charles Jordan. Their cases, like many others, have become part of the cold case files in Memphis, a somber reminder of lives lost and justice yet to be served. The families and community are left to wonder about the final moments of these men and who was responsible for their untimely deaths, hoping that one day, new information will emerge to bring closure to these lingering tragedies.
