Phillip Jackson

Memphis Commercial Appeal

Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church Executive Pastor Brodes Perry was killed Thursday night in a shooting at a Collierville apartment building, multiple sources confirmed with The Commercial Appeal.

Collierville police officers responded to what they described as "a domestic situation" around 10:20 p.m. at the Meridian Park Apartments near South Houston Levee Road and South Shea Road where a man and woman were shot.

The man was transported in serious condition while the woman did not have critical injuries, police said.

The man was later pronounced dead.

Collierville police said Friday that Latoshia S. Daniels was charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, assault on a police officer and other crimes in connection with the fatal shooting.

Collierville police declined to release the names of the victims in the shooting but sources confirmed to The Commercial Appeal that Perry was killed and his wife was injured.

"Pastor Perry was a phenomenal man, dedicated to the Kingdom of God. His service and heart will truly be missed by all," the Rev. J. Lawrence Turner, Mississippi Boulevard senior pastor, said in a statement.

"We ask that you respect the privacy of his family and of our church family during this difficult and sensitive time," Turner also said in the statement.

The church released a statement on its Facebook state, which reads:

It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we share with you the sudden passing of our Executive Pastor, Brodes Perry. Please keep his wife and family lifted in prayer during this difficult time. Also, please keep the entire Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church (DOC) membership in prayer. We ask that you respect the privacy of his family and of our church family during this difficult and sensitive time.

Pastor Perry was a phenomenal man, dedicated to the Kingdom of God. His service and heart will truly be missed by all.

In the bonds of Christian faith,

Rev. Dr. J. Lawrence Turner, Senior Pastor

The church’s statement has been shared nearly 250 times on Facebook and had 500 comments by late Saturday afternoon. Many of those messages from church members and members of the clergy also extended prayers for the church and the Perry family.

According to its website, in 1921 “The BLVD” became the first African-American Disciples of Christ congregation in Memphis, with 11 founding members.

The late Blair T. Hunt, also principal of Booker T. Washington High School, became pastor that December and led the congregation for 52 years.

In 1984 the church moved from its location on Mississippi Boulevard to East Raines Road. And in 1992, the church bought the former Bellevue Baptist Church building on Bellevue Boulevard.

From 2014 until late 2018, Perry was a pastor of assimilation for Saint Mark Baptist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas, according to his LinkedIn profile. He previously worked at churches in Miami and Jacksonville, Florida. He is a 2005 graduate of Florida A&M University.

Reactions to Perry's death are pouring in on social media and from other area pastor and church leaders.

“My heart goes out to (Pastor Perry’s) family and the church family,” said the Rev. Keith Norman, pastor of First Baptist Church-Broad.

“This is a huge loss for the city and the church. The Boulevard is a major player in Memphis and this church campus has drawn lots of young people. This is a terrible blow.”

No bond has been posted for Daniels yet. The first hearing is set for April 9.