MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A family is reeling after the tragic loss of 18-year-old Joseph Simpson, who was fatally shot over the weekend in the Soulsville neighborhood of South Memphis.
The Memphis Police Department responded to reports of a shooting near College Street and Ferry Court around 8:15 p.m. on Saturday. When officers arrived, they found Joseph critically injured. He was transported to the hospital, but by Sunday morning, authorities confirmed that he had succumbed to his injuries.
On Tuesday, police officially identified Joseph Simpson as the victim.
Joseph’s father, Theodore Simpson, is now left mourning a life cut painfully short. “To be honest with you, we are not holding up very well,” he shared through tears. “I got a phone call saying my son just got shot, and he is laying on the ground. I told them, ‘Call the police, call the ambulance.’ They said, ‘No, we called you first.’ I told them, ‘No, call them.’”
Joseph had recently graduated from Trezvant High School and, according to his father, was making efforts to turn his life around. “He was changing his life,” Simpson said. “He was trying to do better.”
As the investigation continues, the Simpson family is left to navigate an overwhelming grief, remembering Joseph not just as a victim, but as a young man with hope and a future.
Police have not yet released details on a suspect. Anyone with information is urged to contact CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH.
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