The cycle of violence continues to play out across Memphis as the homicide rate more than doubles this year compared to 2015.
Local 24 has learned one of two men found shot dead inside a car in southeast Memphis was the brother of another murder victim.
Police found Cameron Stokes and another man dead inside a silver Nissan Maxima on Encino Cove in southeast Memphis Sunday.
“It’s shocking never knew, never would’ve been a thought, anything like this could happen in our residences,” said Devinche Porter, who lives only steps away from where the bodies were found in Hamlet Apartments.
Stoke’s sister, 15-year-old Cateria Stokes, died last April when she was shot to death in her sleep. Memphis police reported they believe her death was gang related.
“The retaliation I mean it’s natural it comes natural to us out here you know it happens to us every day,” Porter said.
Stevie Moore, founder of Stop the Killing, knows this south Memphis area all too well. His son Prentice was gunned down years ago,blocks away from Sunday’s shooting .
“There seems to be constant retaliation,” Moore said. “When I visit homicide victims right after the homicide, the worst problem that you have is everybody’s angry.”
Memphis police are investigating whether the murders of the two stokes siblings are in retaliation for a murder their brother Carlos is charged with committing last April. Three tragedies in twelve months for one family.
Hamlet Apartment resident Michael VanPelt says the violence is getting worse.
“Lately I’ve been hearing gunshots go off,” VanPelt said. “Three months ago they kicked in my door. I didn’t catch them but they got away.”
Sunday’s killings are the latest of 27 criminal homicides this year, according to Memphis police, up over 100% over this time last year.
