June 20, 2026
FOX13 EXCLUSIVE: Widow speaks after husband shot, killed after turning into stranger’s driveway
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – ONLY ON FOX13, a widow is speaking out after her husband was shot and killed after they pulled into a stranger’s driveway.
“The police came so fast,” Shelia Booker said. “If it weren’t for them, I think I’d be dead. They saved my life.”
The widow of Rodriguez Poplar shared what led to her husband’s death on the morning of Friday, Jan. 9, as well as why she believes she escaped the same fate. Booker told FOX13 investigators let her know about how she can keep up on the scheduled court appearances for the suspect in her husband’s murder.
The nature of the investigation is written across the windshield of Booker’s Chevy Spark. She witnessed the murder of her husband, Rodriguez Poplar, early Friday morning.
Booker said when she and her husband saw blue lights ahead on North Trezevant Street, he told her to duck into a driveway because a headlight was busted and the tags on their car were expired. She said that when she did, however, the homeowner came out of the house armed, demanding that they leave.
“So, he pulled the gun in my face and that’s when my husband got out and my husband got out trying to protect me, and that’s when he shot my husband right in front of me,” Booker said.
The police Booker said they were hoping to avoid were on the scene to make an arrest in less than a minute.
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The responding officers reported that they found the suspect, Tommy Applewhite, still holding the weapon.
Applewhite faces several charges, including second-degree murder.
FOX13 checked court records and found Applewhite has a criminal history in Shelby County dating back to 2001. The most serious case was in 2007, when Applewhite shot a man twice at a Frayser apartment complex. The victim told police the two had fought a week earlier. Applewhite pleaded guilty to attempted murder and as sentenced to three years in prison.
Court records show numerous other run-ins with the law for drug and gun charges. At the time of the 2026 shooting, Applewhite was on active probation after pleading guilty to a gun charge in 2022, according to Tennessee Department of Corrections records
Shelia Booker created a GoFundMe to cover funeral costs. To donate, visit here.
