On a spring night in Memphis, the life of Raymond Anderson, a 38-year-old husband and father known to friends and family as “Ray Ray,” was brought to a violent and sudden end. His death on Sunday, April 19, 2009, left a void in the lives of his loved ones and an unsolved homicide case on the books of the Memphis Police Department. A graduate of Southside High School, Raymond was remembered by those who knew him as a beloved family man who was deeply loved in return. He was married to his wife, Latosha Leach, and was the father of two daughters, Rheagan and Myah. Friends recalled times spent laughing and playing, describing him as someone they loved like a brother.
The fatal encounter occurred around 10:30 p.m. at the Alpha Renaissance Apartments in the 1400 block of Genesis Circle, just south of Kerr Avenue. Officers from the Airways Station responded to a call about a shooting and discovered a grim scene. Raymond Anderson, a Black male, was found lying on the ground next to his white 1996 Oldsmobile, suffering from a gunshot wound. When police first arrived, he was still alive and conscious enough to provide some initial information about what had happened.
Responding officers performed CPR until paramedics arrived to take over medical care. Raymond was rushed to the Regional Medical Center, known as The Med, in critical condition. Despite the efforts to save him, he succumbed to his injuries a short time after arriving at the hospital. The motive for the shooting was believed to be robbery, turning a theft into a tragedy that cost a man his life.
The Memphis Police Department's Homicide Bureau took charge of the investigation. Detectives at the scene worked to piece together the sequence of events that led to the deadly shooting. Witnesses provided a description of a possible suspect: a young African-American male, estimated to be about 5'11" tall and weighing around 230 pounds. He was reportedly wearing a light-colored t-shirt and dark pants and was seen fleeing the apartment complex on foot, heading eastbound after the gunshots rang out.
In the years since Raymond Anderson’s murder, his case has grown cold. Despite the initial witness description and the investigation by law enforcement, no arrests have been made, and no one has been held accountable for his death. His family was left to grieve without the closure of justice. Funeral services were held the following Saturday at Emmanuel Baptist Church on Ayers, and he was laid to rest in New Park South Cemetery. Online condolences from friends and family expressed deep sorrow and offered prayers for his wife and children. One message from a daughter who never had the chance to meet him poignantly expressed a longing for the father-daughter relationship she never had.
As of May 2009, the Memphis Police Department was still asking for the public's help to solve the murder. The case remains an open and unsolved homicide, a painful reminder of a life taken too soon. The investigation continues, awaiting any new information that could lead to a breakthrough and finally bring justice for Raymond Anderson and his family.
