In the early morning hours of November 6, 2024, the vibrant Memphis music scene was irrevocably dimmed by the loss of Blake Sale Rhea, a 48-year-old male bassist known for his infectious smile and immense talent. His life was cut short in a violent encounter outside a Midtown bar, a tragic end to what began as a verbal dispute. Rhea, a beloved musician, teacher, and friend, was shot and killed, leaving a profound void in the community he so passionately served.
The events leading to
Rhea's death unfolded at Louis Connelly's Bar for Fun Times & Friendship on South Cleveland Street. Inside the establishment, a verbal altercation ignited between Rhea and another man, later identified as 51-year-old Edward Wurl. The argument, reportedly over a woman, spilled outside into the night. A security guard at the bar later recounted hearing the argument before the fatal shots were fired. Surveillance footage from the bar captured Rhea walking to his car, followed by Wurl, who appeared to be concealing a shiny, pointed object. Shortly after, the flash of a muzzle was seen, and Rhea was left slumped in the driver's seat of his vehicle. He was pronounced deceased at the scene, having sustained both cuts and gunshot wounds.
Law enforcement officials quickly identified Edward Wurl as the suspect. Witnesses to the preceding argument were able to identify Wurl from a photo lineup. He was located and taken into custody later that same day at the Memphis Mental Health Institute. Wurl, a convicted felon with a prior conviction for burglary and wounding in Virginia from 1994, was charged with first-degree murder and being a convicted felon in possession of a handgun. Following his arrest, Wurl was held in the Shelby County Jail without bond. The case against him was subsequently sent to a Shelby County Grand Jury for further action.
