Tyrone Hipps Jr., a 32-year-old Black man from Cleveland, Ohio, was a beloved son, brother, uncle, and father of three children. Also known by his Muslim name, Salahudin Assalifie, he was remembered by loved ones as the "true definition of a protector" who did whatever it took to provide for his family. In 2022, Hipps began a career in security, and shortly before his death, he had been overjoyed to obtain his security guard license.
He was a man with an artistic spirit who found strength and fulfillment in his faith and was committed to personal growth.
On the evening of January 27, 2024, Hipps met with several individuals outside a Sunoco gas station on East 93rd Street in Cleveland. Investigators believe the meeting was for a transaction that went wrong. During the encounter, Hipps was shot. Emergency medical services were called to the scene, where he was pronounced dead. His death was mourned by his family as an act of senseless gun violence.
In the days following the shooting, the Cleveland Division of Police released photographs of three suspects and asked the public for help in identifying them. The department stated that any detail, no matter how small, could be crucial in apprehending those responsible for Hipps’s death. The investigation moved forward, eventually leading to a prosecution in the case.
Tallis C. Moorer, Jr. was later arrested and convicted for his involvement in the homicide of Tyrone Hipps. The conviction was subsequently affirmed by the Ohio Court of Appeals, bringing a measure of justice to his family. With this development, the case is considered solved.
Hipps had previously demonstrated a resolve to stand up for his rights. In 2019, while incarcerated, he filed a civil rights lawsuit alleging he was attacked by a corrections officer in retaliation for reporting inhumane conditions at the jail. His family held funeral services for him on February 9, 2024, and he was laid to rest at Riverside Cleveland Cemetery. He is remembered for his dedication to his family, his faith, and his efforts to build a better life.
