Police said Kortarious William was shot and killed at a gas station in North Memphis, Tennessee, over the weekend. The report identifies the location as a Valero station on North Hollywood near James Road. According to the report, William had stopped at the station after coming home from work. Rosalind Blevins said she was in the vehicle with him when the shooting occurred early Sunday. The report said two masked individuals approached the driver's-side window as William was leaving. A family member said the individuals asked him for money before the shooting. The couple then struck a tree in the parking lot while trying to leave, according to the report. Police responded after Blevins called 911. Days later, the report said no arrests had been made. Authorities will determine what occurred and whether any criminal charges are appropriate. What Makes This Incident Different This report involves a fatal shooting at a business open to customers rather than a collision or a conventional workplace accident. The reported events occurred in the parking area of a North Memphis gas station, where people may be stopping briefly for fuel, food, drinks, or other purchases. A death caused by gunfire can lead to a criminal investigation, while surviving relatives may also have questions about whether a civil claim should be evaluated. Those are separate processes with different purposes. A criminal investigation focuses on identifying and prosecuting a suspect if the evidence supports charges. A civil review may consider whether a business, property owner, or another party had legal responsibilities connected to the location and whether the available evidence supports any claim. No conclusion about civil responsibility should be drawn from the news report alone. The evidence, not assumptions, will determine what happened and whether anyone other than a suspected shooter may have had a legally relevant role. Questions Investigators May Examine Investigators may examine the sequence of events from the time William arrived at the station through the police response. They may seek to clarify what the people involved did, said, or observed before and during the shooting. Depending on the evidence, investigators may also examine conditional questions such as: - Whether surveillance footage captured the approach to the vehicle, the shooting, or the efforts to leave the lot. - Whether witnesses saw the individuals described in the report, a vehicle, or other events that could help identify those involved. - Whether the business had security practices or staff procedures relevant to the circumstances that night. - Whether prior incident reports, calls for service, or other records are relevant to what risks were known at this particular location, if such records exist. - Whether the parking-lot collision affected the physical evidence or the accounts of those who were present. These questions do not establish that any person or business acted improperly. Investigators and attorneys must assess the evidence in context. Evidence That May Need to Be Preserved Families dealing with a fatal shooting may benefit from promptly seeking advice about preserving information before it is overwritten, discarded, or becomes harder to locate. Depending on what exists, potentially important materials may include: - Exterior and interior security-camera recordings from the gas station and nearby businesses - Police dispatch, 911-call, and responding-officer records - Photographs, video, and measurements from the parking lot and the vehicle involved in the collision - Witness names, contact information, and contemporaneous statements - Business records concerning security staffing, lighting, cameras, inspections, and incident-response procedures - Any prior reports or calls that may be relevant to safety conditions at the specific property - The medical examiner's records and other documentation relating to the death - Communications, receipts, or other materials that may help establish the timeline The existence or content of these records cannot be assumed. A preservation request can be an important early step when a family needs time to understand its options. What Families Should Know The loss of a parent and family member can bring immediate emotional and financial pressure. While police continue a criminal investigation, a family may wish to speak with a Tennessee wrongful-death attorney about its civil rights. A civil matter does not require a family to wait for every aspect of a criminal case to conclude before obtaining legal guidance. Tennessee law sets deadlines for wrongful-death and other injury-related claims, and the deadline that applies can depend on the facts and legal theory involved. Waiting can also make it more difficult to preserve video and identify witnesses. A lawyer can review the known facts, explain who may be authorized to bring a claim, and discuss potential categories of losses without guaranteeing any result. Families should be cautious when discussing the case publicly or with insurance representatives before they understand the purpose of the contact. Keeping copies of communications, funeral-related expenses, and other documents may help a lawyer evaluate the circumstances. How Dunk Law Can Help Dunk Law can speak with families after a fatal shooting at a commercial property in Memphis or elsewhere in Tennessee. Our team can review the publicly known circumstances, help pursue preservation of potential video and records, and evaluate whether the facts support a wrongful-death or premises-liability investigation. We approach these matters with care for the family while focusing on the evidence. If you lost a loved one in a shooting at a business or other property, Dunk Law can explain the legal process and help you assess available next steps. Related Dunk Law Resources - All practice areas - Memphis personal injury lawyers This post is based on publicly available news reports and is provided for general information only. It is not legal advice.