A dispute outside a cafe on Beale Street in Memphis turned deadly in the early hours of March 17, 2024. Damein Vaughn Hawkins Sr., 52, was fatally shot after reportedly stepping in to break up a fight; emergency crews found him critically injured after a gunshot around 2 a.m. and he later died at a nearby hospital. His wife described him as a gentle giant and the family remembers him as a devoted husband, father, brother, son, and grandfather.

Police identified 27-year-old Quavarre Rogers at the scene, saw him armed, and took him into custody after a brief chase. Rogers was found with a modified firearm and was initially charged with second-degree murder; those charges were dismissed in April 2024 and a grand jury returned a new indictment that led to re-arrest on first-degree murder and possession of a prohibited weapon. The case ultimately resulted in a conviction for voluntary manslaughter, and sentencing has been delayed, leaving the family in ongoing uncertainty.

If anyone witnessed the incident on Beale Street that night or has information that could help the family, please come forward.