MEMPHIS, Tenn. – A Mid-South family is grappling with profound sorrow and outrage following the tragic death of 20-year-old Ikeyana Rivers, who was fatally shot while driving on I-240 on the night of June 28, 2025. Adding to the family’s anguish, her bank account was targeted and drained within hours of her passing, leaving her loved ones to confront both a senseless loss and a callous betrayal.
Ikeyana, remembered by those closest to her as vibrant, compassionate, and brimming with potential, was killed around 11:30 p.m. near the Highway 385 exit. The Memphis Police Department continues to investigate the circumstances of the shooting, but as of now, no suspects have been named, and no arrests have been made.
In the wake of this tragedy, Ikeyana’s mother, Ayeisha Rivers, discovered another devastating violation. Within hours of her daughter’s death, unauthorized transactions began depleting Ikeyana’s bank account. “They released her phone. When I cut it on, I’m seeing notifications of her bank,” Ayeisha shared in an emotional interview with FOX13. “Not even 10 hours after she was gone. Transactions.”
The fraudulent activity began with a modest withdrawal of $15 but persisted over the following two weeks, siphoning nearly $500 from the account until only a single cent remained. Ayeisha was unaware of the theft until nearly three weeks later, when she regained access to her daughter’s phone and saw the barrage of bank notifications. “I didn’t even know it was happening,” she said. “Whoever did this… That’s a low-down, cold-hearted person. It’s not right.”
Ayeisha is now collaborating with Wells Fargo and the Memphis Police Department to track the fraudulent transactions and identify the individual or individuals responsible for exploiting her daughter’s death. The added pain of this financial violation has deepened the family’s grief, as they navigate the loss of a beloved daughter and sister.
“Losing a child is something I wouldn’t wish on anyone,” Ayeisha said. “But then to learn someone was out there stealing from her, when she should’ve been laid to rest in peace—it just breaks me all over again.”
**A Community Mourns, A Case Unresolved**
The Memphis Police Department has confirmed that the investigation into Ikeyana’s shooting remains active, though details are scarce, and no persons of interest have been publicly identified. The department encourages anyone with information to contact them directly or submit an anonymous tip through CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH.
Beyond the investigation, Ikeyana’s memory lives on through the love and admiration of her community. Friends and family describe her as a joyful presence, someone who lit up every room with her warmth and infectious spirit. A makeshift memorial has taken shape near the site of the shooting, adorned with flowers and messages of love, while plans for a candlelight vigil are underway to honor her life.
“This was somebody’s daughter, somebody’s whole world,” a family friend said. “And she deserves justice—for what happened to her that night, and for what happened after.”
Ayeisha Rivers continues to fight for answers, seeking justice for her daughter’s murder and accountability for the heartless theft that followed. As the investigation unfolds, the Mid-South community rallies around the Rivers family, holding fast to the memory of a young woman whose light was extinguished far too soon.
