On the evening of November 12, 2023, a family walk in downtown Memphis, Tennessee, ended when 32-year-old Alexander Bulakhov was shot and later died. Bulakhov, a postdoctoral researcher at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital who had moved to Memphis in July with his wife Anastasia and their two-year-old daughter, intervened after a ski-masked man with a gun demanded the family’s property. Bulakhov handed over his wallet; when the gunman then pointed the weapon at his wife, Bulakhov stepped in and a struggle followed.

The gun discharged and Bulakhov was critically wounded; he died after being taken to a hospital. Police identified a white Toyota Camry seen on nearby surveillance and located the vehicle the next day. Two people were arrested: Marious Ward, then 23, whom police say confessed to being the gunman, and Brandy Rucker, then 22, accused of driving the getaway car. Both were charged with offenses including first-degree murder and aggravated robbery; later grand jury indictments and bond hearings followed.

If anyone has information about that night or the vehicle seen on surveillance, please share what you know.