Family identifies, mourns third victim in Hickory Hill crash

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Many in Hickory Hill are mourning a young man who was one of five people killed in a crash involving Memphis police early Sunday morning.

Rodney McNeal’s family and friends got together for a balloon release near the crash site.

McNeal was killed in the early hours of Sunday morning after a collision with a Memphis Police Department vehicle.

His loved ones said they miss him dearly, but remember his joy.

“Whatever you’re going through, you can count on him to show up. And he ain’t – that’s my baby cousin – I ain’t never seen him sad. I ain’t never seen him sad ever,” a loved one said.

But for those he left behind, the sadness is now overwhelming.

“Lord Jesus, we ask you to let everybody heal from this pain. Lord Jesus, on down the line, we know this is a process, Lord Jesus, but we ask you to walk with us through this process,” said a loved one. “I am in disbelief.”

McNeal was one of five killed in the deadly wreck. Two of the other young victims, 22-year-old Messiah Lee and 21-year-old Syria Fifer, have also been identified by their families.

MPD has said two of their officers were headed to a shooting scene when the vehicles collided.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.

Police have not identified the victims in the deadly crash.