Pastor Ricky Floyd dead, woman charged after shooting at Memphis bar

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — An early-morning shooting captured on surveillance cameras at a South Memphis bar left a well-known Memphis pastor dead Wednesday morning.

The victim was identified by Memphis Police as Pastor Ricky Floyd from Pursuit of God Church in Frayser.

Samantha Marion, 42, has been arrested and charged with Voluntary Manslaughter in connection to the incident. Police say the two were involved in an argument before the shooting. Her bond has not been set.

The shooting took place at Momma’s Bar and Kitchen, 855 Kentucky St. at Crump, at 1:14 a.m. A man was pronounced dead on the scene and Marion was taken into custody, according to the MPD.

A manager at Momma’s Bar and Kitchen told WREG this did not happen inside the establishment, and it happened after they had closed.

According to reports, when police arrived, Floyd was lying in the road, suffering a gunshot wound. Memphis Fire Department arrived on the scene and pronounced Floyd dead at 1:24 a.m.

Police said they talked to witnesses who said they were inside the business with Marion when she became involved in an argument with Floyd. They said Floyd left the business, and they went outside.

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Police say that while they were talking outside, Floyd returned and became irate and aggressive to the witnesses and Marion, which was captured on surveillance cameras.

MPD said that Marion walked onto the road and recorded his vehicle with her phone. Floyd stopped his vehicle and walked toward her, and one of the witnesses got in between them.

The video showed that Marion walk toward Floyd, who began to walk backwards away from her. As he backed away, he was seen falling to the ground and not getting back up.

The witness told police that Marion shot Floyd in the roadway.

Floyd was a pastor at the Pursuit of God Church. WREG interviewed him multiple times over the years as he led efforts for police reform and shared his testimony of helping teens escape violence.

In 2020, on the same night Floyd spoke with WREG, he was shot when someone targeted him and his vehicle.

Frayser pastor shot Monday, same day he was featured on WREG

In 2018, Floyd told WREG that he was carjacked two years earlier while putting air in his tires at a gas station.

Floyd’s church released a statement on social media confirming his death Wednesday, and saying that arrangements were being made to honor Floyd’s life and legacy.

“His unwavering dedication to our community and his profound impact on the lives of those he touched will be remembered and cherished,” said the pastor’s media liaison Dr. Telisa Franklin.

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Memphis Mayor Paul Young called Floyd “a beloved leader, friend, mentor, and servant to our city” in a social media post.

“He dedicated his life to lifting up others, guiding countless souls with his wisdom, faith, and unwavering commitment to our community. His death is more than a loss for his family and his congregation — it is a loss for Memphis,” Young wrote.

The mayor also said senseless gun violence must stop in Memphis, and asked the city to stand together to make a change. “We owe it to Pastor Floyd, and we owe it to each other.”

County Commissioner Charlie Caswell said Floyd was his pastor and his friend, and he recently rejoined Floyd’s church. He saw Floyd yesterday, when Floyd attended a district meeting in his neighborhood.

“A respected leader in our community, both in Memphis and beyond,” said MPD Chief CJ Davis.

“It was pastor Ricky Floyd, 23 years ago, that saw something in me when he became my pastor, that most people would’ve given up on me for,” Caswell said. “When I think of the impact on this city, this long outlives what were hearing today of Ricky Floyd.”

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In a statement on behalf of the Memphis City Council, Chairman J Ford Canale called Floyd “more than a spiritual leader,” saying he was a “Pillar of strength, a relentless advocate for change, and a guiding force for hope and transformation in our city.”

Canale said Floyd was a beacon of hope, faith, and empowerment, and dedicated his life to uplifting, restoring, and strengthening families and communities.

“We will honor his legacy by continuing the work he so passionately championed,” said Canale. “Memphis has lost a true servant leader, but his impact will endure for generations.”