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Memphis Police announced Tuesday the arrest of a man accused of fatally shooting another man Monday inside Wolfchase Galleria 22-year-old Yahir Mejia has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of Erik Sandoval.
According to court documents and police reports, the incident began when Mejia and his girlfriend were shopping at Village Mart and were approached by Sandoval. Mejia told investigators that the two got into an argument and that Sandoval punched him in the face, prompting Mejia to fire three shots. Mejia has claimed the shooting was done in self-defense, stating, “Don’t ever put your hands on me or my baby mama.”
Investigators reviewed surveillance footage and determined that it does not support Mejia’s self-defense claim.
Mejia was taken into custody after he returned home following the shooting. Memphis Safe Task Force members met with his mother, and after a brief foot chase, he was arrested. During the incident, Mejia reportedly went live on Facebook, saying he was going to turn himself in, stating, “I didn’t want to turn myself in but… they’re already at both my houses.”
Mejia is scheduled to be arraigned on his murder charge on Wednesday.
Memphis Police emphasized the teamwork that led to his arrest. In a statement, police said, “Yesterday’s arrest was an example of the determination of the Memphis Police Department, our federal partners with the Memphis Safe Task Force, and our Homicide Investigators to keep violent offenders off our streets. Their work ensured this individual was identified and taken into custody without delay. Our commitment to protecting our city remains steadfast, and we will continue working every day to build a Stronger, Safer Memphis.”
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