Mario Garland

In the late summer of 2012, Mario Garland was a 19-year-old African American man navigating the complexities of life in Memphis, Tennessee. Less than a month before his death, he was photographed in the back of a police car after an arrest for residential burglary, a moment in time that offered a glimpse into his struggles. Yet, to those who knew him, he was also a young man remembered for his "wonderful smile and playfulness." His life, with all its potential and challenges, was a part of the fabric of his community.

Ten days after his funeral was announced, family and friends gathered to say goodbye. The service was held at noon on Saturday, September 22, 2012, at the Impact Baptist Church and Ministries on Watkins Street. It was a day to mourn a life cut short and to remember the young man they had lost. In the years since, however, the public record has remained largely silent, leaving a void where a story of justice and resolution should be.

The morning of Wednesday, September 12, 2012, began with violence. Just before 8 a.m., Memphis Police Department officers were called to an apartment complex on East Cabana Circle in the Hickory Hill neighborhood of southeast Memphis. Outside one of the buildings, they found Mario Garland suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene, his life ending abruptly on the pavement of the residential community.

The initial investigation provided a few critical leads. Witnesses told police they saw two young men fleeing the scene immediately after the shooting. They were seen getting into a small, blue car and driving away from the area. Based on this information, the Memphis Police Department issued a public appeal for help in identifying the two individuals they believed were responsible for Mario's death.

In the immediate aftermath, the case was an active homicide investigation. The Memphis police worked the scene, gathering evidence and speaking with residents of the apartment complex, hoping to piece together the events that led to the fatal shooting. The description of the suspects and their getaway vehicle was shared with the public, and authorities urged anyone with information to come forward. A tip line was established through Crime Stoppers, offering a channel for anonymous information that might lead to an arrest.

Despite the initial witness statements and police activity, the trail appears to have gone cold. Publicly available information and news reports have not provided any updates on the investigation in the years that have passed. There have been no announcements regarding the identification of the two men seen fleeing, no arrests have been made, and no charges have been filed in connection with the murder of Mario Garland. The small blue car and its occupants seemingly vanished.

More than a decade later, Mario Garland's case remains unsolved. The questions of who killed him and why are unanswered, leaving his family and community without closure. The investigation into his death is one of many cold cases in Memphis, a painful reminder of a life taken and a crime unpunished. As of September 2012, the case remains open but inactive in the public eye. Police have encouraged anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to contact Crime Stoppers at 901-528-CASH.