Rodriquez Poplar, 42, was shot and killed in Memphis on January 9, 2026 after pulling into a driveway on North Trezevant Street to avoid a minor traffic stop for a broken headlight and expired tags. Poplar and his wife, Sheila Booker, were confronted by the homeowner, identified as Tommy Applewhite, who emerged armed and demanded they leave. Reports say Applewhite pointed the gun at Booker’s face; Poplar got out and positioned himself between his wife and the armed homeowner and was then shot in the stomach.

Officers who had heard the commotion arrived within about a minute and took Applewhite into custody while paramedics transported Poplar to the hospital, where he died shortly after arrival. Applewhite was arrested and charged with multiple offenses, including second-degree murder. He has a lengthy Shelby County criminal history dating to 2001, including a 2007 attempted murder conviction and prison time, and was on active probation for a 2022 gun charge at the time of the shooting. A week after the incident, Applewhite was released on a $50,000 bond, a development that deeply upset Poplar’s family.

If anyone in the neighborhood saw what happened that night or has information about the confrontation on North Trezevant Street, please come forward.