Nationwide — Dr. Shandrika Hayslett, a 34-year-old African American woman from Memphis, Tennessee, was killed during a shooting at a family celebration, just months after earning her doctoral degree. Four other people were injured in the gunfire.
She was attending a trunk party in Memphis’ Douglass community to celebrate a relative’s college acceptance. The gathering turned deadly after a fight broke out on Brookins Street and gunfire erupted. Sadly, she died at the scene. Four other people, ages 27 to 42, were injured and taken to hospitals. Two suffered life-threatening injuries. Police said Monday that three of the victims had been released, while one remained in critical condition.
Video from the scene showed a group of people fighting before running for cover as shots were fired. Hayslett’s cousin, Rita Houston, said the shooting stemmed from a conflict involving someone at the gathering. “Bad actors obviously had something in their mind, and they ended up planning. We know for a fact it was planned because there was somebody in the group that they were beefing with,” Houston said, according to Action News 5.
Memphis police charged two 25-year-old men, Naskial Wilson and Damion Thomas, with first-degree murder, six counts of attempted first-degree murder and several other firearm-related charges. A 16-year-old boy also faces first-degree murder and other charges tied to the shooting.
Police arrested Wilson and Thomas within hours after investigators issued warrants. Chief C.J. Davis said investigators had been working around the clock and that more arrests could follow. Family members, community leaders and Hayslett’s pastor, Fred McWilliams, gathered Monday to remember her. McWilliams said Hayslett had delivered a message at her church shortly before her death and called for justice while urging the Douglass community to remain united.
Hayslett had earned her doctorate in May and was preparing to start a family with her husband. Mayor Paul Young also remembered her as someone who cared deeply about others and dedicated herself to serving the Memphis community. The investigation remains ongoing, and police are asking anyone with information about the shooting to contact authorities.