MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Detectives have named a suspect in connection to a deadly shooting in Raleigh.
Tifanee Wright is wanted on murder charges in the shooting death of 60-year-old Dr. Yvonne Nelson — a community activist and philanthropist in Memphis for more than 30 years.
Police say Nelson was shot and killed outside a store in the 5100 block of Yale Road Saturday Night.
Multiple callers told 911 that the alleged shooter fled the scene in a newer model black Infiniti, leaving many to believe Nelson was carjacked.
On Wednesday, police confirmed the incident was not a carjacking. The investigation revealed that the shooting stemmed from an argument over money between the victim and Wright.
Dr. Nelson leaves behind two children and a grandchild.
Her daughter, Iman Mason, said she doesn’t know if or how her mother and the suspect knew each other, but wants to make sure her mother is remembered for her impact on the city.
Nelson was an activist and philanthropist. Among her many roles, she served as president of the Whitehaven Community Development for 25 years, was a commissioner with the Memphis City Beautiful Commission and had been honored by the state for her work.
Video shows the tense moments before Nelson’s death. You can a woman who appears to be Tifanee Wright walking backward. She fires a shot into the ground as a woman believed to be Nelson walks toward her.
The interaction lasted seconds before the women disappear from the camera’s view and you can see others in a strip mall parking lot start running.
Police say Nelson was shot multiple times before she died. Wright left the scene in a black Infiniti.
Mason says she doesn’t know why her 60-year-old mother went toward Wright but said she wasn’t armed and wasn’t a threat.
“I don’t know what her thoughts were in that moment but I do know that she needed help and she didn’t deserve to die like that,” Mason said.
Wright’s brother, James Boothe, said his sister has five children, is a good person and has never been in trouble with the law. He believes she was protecting herself.
“This is self defense,” Boothe said.
If you know where Tifanee Wright is, call CrimeStoppers at 528-CASH.