Erik Sandoval, 23, was shot and killed inside Wolfchase Galleria in Memphis on November 17, 2025. The shooting followed a confrontation with 22-year-old Yahir Mejia. Authorities say Mejia shot Sandoval during the encounter; Mejia and a girlfriend left the mall and returned to their apartment, and Mejia was later arrested at his mother’s home after a brief chase by the Memphis Safe Task Force. Private funeral services for Sandoval were held on November 22, 2025.

Mejia has been charged with second-degree murder. At a preliminary hearing in early December 2025, Mejia claimed self-defense, saying Sandoval approached and punched him, but prosecutors said surveillance footage did not support that account. The girlfriend testified she witnessed the shooting and knew Mejia was armed; she called the moment both a surprise and not a surprise. Court filings also noted Mejia was out on bond in a separate case and has prior theft, drug, and firearm charges. A judge found enough evidence to send the case to a grand jury.

Did anyone in the Wolfchase Galleria area on November 17 see or record anything that could clarify what happened between Sandoval and Mejia?