MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A tragic scene unfolded Friday evening in Cordova when an 18-year-old was found shot to death inside a vehicle parked outside a busy strip mall, authorities confirmed. The victim has been identified as Antonio Sykes, Jr., a young man whose life was cut short under violent and devastating circumstances.
The incident occurred around 5:40 p.m. in the 1900 block of Berryhill Road, near a smoke shop in a commercial plaza that includes several small businesses. According to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO), deputies were dispatched to the area after reports of gunfire. Upon arrival, they discovered Sykes inside a vehicle with at least one gunshot wound. Shelby County Fire paramedics quickly responded but pronounced him dead at the scene.
Witnesses described moments of fear and shock as the situation unfolded. Some reported hearing three to five gunshots before deputies arrived. Others said they could see the young man’s legs hanging out of the car, a haunting image that has shaken both passersby and nearby workers.
Michelle Seymour, owner of Crazy About Hair Salon located in the same strip mall, told reporters that she and her staff were startled by the news when they received a phone call about the shooting. “We work in a salon across from where the thing happened. And we got a phone call. They, they heard something had just happened. So I did a walk over before the scene got too busy. And I didn’t get to see who was harmed, but I saw the vehicle, and the emotions just got to wake me up,” Seymour said, describing the shock that rippled through the area.
While early reports from witnesses suggested the victim may have been older, the sheriff’s office confirmed that the deceased was just 18 years old. No suspects have been arrested, and authorities have not released details about a potential motive. The case remains an active homicide investigation.
Despite the shooting’s proximity to Cordova High School, where a football game was scheduled later that evening, the SCSO announced that Berryhill Road remained open and no traffic disruptions were expected. Still, the shooting has left families and business owners in the community uneasy.
The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office is urging anyone with information to come forward. Tips can be submitted anonymously through CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH.
As investigators work to determine what led to the fatal shooting, loved ones of Antonio Sykes Jr. are left grieving the sudden and violent loss of a teenager whose life ended far too soon.