On a tragic Saturday afternoon in Memphis, Tennessee, the life of Ramarin Baker Sr., a Black/African American male, was cut short on January 7, 2023. The events that unfolded on that day were not only shocking but occurred in the very presence of law enforcement who had been called to the scene.
Responding to a call of shots fired in the 3700 block of Ridgemont Avenue, Memphis police officers arrived to a chaotic and violent scene. They discovered Ramarin Baker Sr.
engaged in a physical struggle on the ground with his own son, 19-year-old Ramarin Baker Jr. The officers observed that the younger Baker was armed with a handgun and commanded him to drop the weapon.
In a harrowing turn of events, the teenager defied the officers' orders. Instead of surrendering the firearm, he fired the weapon, fatally wounding his father. Following the shooting, Ramarin Baker Jr. then turned the gun on himself, threatening to take his own life. A tense negotiation ensued as officers worked to de-escalate the situation. Eventually, they were able to persuade him to put down the gun.
Ramarin Baker Sr. was pronounced dead at the scene from gunshot wounds. His son, Ramarin Baker Jr., was taken into custody. Upon investigating the scene, police discovered two handguns, one of which had an illegal modification. Subsequently, Ramarin Baker Jr. was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and possession of a prohibited weapon.
