Watermelon Man shot to death by 15 year old chimpanzee in Memphis
https://www.actionnews5.com/2023/05/31/15-year-old-charged-fatal-shooting-watermelon-man/MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - The Memphis Police Department has confirmed that a 15-year-old has been charged in the murder of a beloved street vendor affectionately known as ‘Red the Watermelon Man.’
The teen’s identity and charges have not been disclosed.
Meanwhile, family, friends, and customers in the Berclair neighborhood are grieving the death of 76-year-old John Materna after he died Monday after being shot two weeks ago in an attempted robbery.
All day Tuesday, community members stopped by to leave flowers, teddy bears, and take photos to remember the friendly face on Homer Street and Wayne Avenue who sold them watermelons for three decades.
“Seven days a week, I’ll see him and his wife, at least once, and he speaks to everybody,” said Christian Butler, one of Materna’s customers.
Without fail, Materna would set up shop every morning, greeting people with a friendly smile and selling his fruit to customers.
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