Vigil held for 5 killed in Hickory Hill crash involving MPD cruiser

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – Family members and friends held a candlelight vigil Tuesday night in Hickory Hill to remember five young people killed in a weekend crash involving a Memphis Police Department cruiser.

A sixth victim remains hospitalized in critical condition. As of Tuesday, two days after the crash, Memphis police have not confirmed the identities of all those killed.

Family members and sources named the victims for Action News 5:

Samantha Dowden, Carlesha and Syria’s aunt, spoke to Action News 5 at the vigil.

“We’re here to pay respect to all the girls. It was a tragic loss. We hate that this happened, but this is the way we’re showing our love by bringing balloons out… paying respects to our family,” Dowden said.

Surveillance video from a gas station at Raines and Hickory Hill captured the crash. The footage shows the MPD cruiser, with lights on, responding to a call with a green light at the intersection. The civilian car had a red light.

MPD confirmed the officers were headed to a “man down” call that turned out to be a homicide.

Danielle Conley, also an aunt of Carlesha and Syria, asked people to wait for the investigation to conclude.

“Let them do the investigation before anybody comes up with their own assumption, their own conclusions on what happened. It’s gonna, you know, it’s gonna come out. It’s gonna come out,” Conley said.

During the vigil, mourners released balloons in the favorite colors of the victims: pink for Carlesha, purple for Syria and Amerika, and red for Messiah.

The balloons struck live power lines above the vigil, sparking a grass fire below. The Memphis Fire Department has a station next door and quickly responded.

Dowden said family members are providing each other with support right now.

“It’s just a tragic loss. I mean, they were on the right track. Perfect, perfect kids. Just a tragic loss for all of us,” Dowden said.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Two MPD officers were injured in the accident but have been treated and released from the hospital.