Seventeen-year-old Christian Brown, an African American student at Booker T. Washington High School in South Memphis, was shot and killed on the afternoon of April 24, 2025. The shooting occurred about 3 p.m. at the intersection of Mississippi Boulevard and South Lauderdale Street; Christian and an 18-year-old classmate, Darrius Wadley, were both fatally wounded. Christian’s family said he had hoped to join the Navy and was days away from graduating.

Investigators treating the case as a targeted, gang-related attack say surveillance footage showed three suspects and that four individuals were believed to have taken part. Two days after the shooting, 18-year-old Valdemar Patterson was arrested and charged with first-degree murder; authorities later charged Emanuel Jackson and Mario Simmons with two counts of first-degree murder as well. One suspect remained at large. Christian’s sister accepted his honorary diploma and a GoFundMe was set up to help the family with funeral and memorial expenses.

If anyone knew Christian, Darrius, or saw activity near Mississippi Boulevard and South Lauderdale Street on April 24, please come forward with what was seen or recorded.