Akasuki L.D. Pettis Waller was 25 and a mother of three when she was mortally wounded in North Memphis on Tuesday, December 17, 2019. She and the father of her children were riding together in a white SUV in the 800 block of Alma Street shortly after 3 p.m. Neighbors reported hearing gunfire; officers found the SUV stopped on the street. The boys’ father was shot and pronounced dead at the scene. Akasuki was gravely wounded, taken to Regional One Health in extremely critical condition, and family members later made the decision to remove her from life support the following morning when her injuries proved unsurvivable.

The double loss left three young boys without either parent just before Christmas. Initial statements from Memphis police said the shooting was under investigation but gave no suspect description, motive, or details about how many assailants were involved. As of the last reports, no arrest, charge, or conviction has been announced and the case remains open.

Does anyone remember seeing a white SUV on Alma Street that afternoon or have information that could help the investigation?