Montrell Brown, a Black man, died after being shot inside a vehicle in the Frayser neighborhood of Memphis on the morning of January 18, 2025. Police found him near Shady Vista Drive and Bethlehem Avenue; he was taken to a hospital and later died of multiple gunshot wounds. The shooting occurred during a cold winter morning and has been described as another death from gun violence.

Authorities arrested Larry Kirby and charged him with second-degree murder in connection with Brown’s killing. Investigators say Brown had allegedly sent threatening messages to Kirby and Kirby’s girlfriend before the encounter, and the girlfriend told police Kirby confessed to shooting Brown. Kirby was booked into the Shelby County Jail on $300,000 bond; records noted a prior conviction for aggravated stalking in July 2021. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to develop the timeline and motives.

If anyone witnessed the shooting near Shady Vista Drive and Bethlehem Avenue that morning or has information about the events leading up to it, please come forward.