A Friendship Turned Deadly: A Man Shot Multiple Times by Brothers He Trusted

A Memphis man narrowly escaped death after being shot several times inside his own apartment by two brothers he had known for nearly four years. The suspects, 18-year-old Dewayne Jacobs and 22-year-old Lamarian Jacobs, now sit behind bars after police say they ambushed, shot, and robbed the victim at an apartment complex on Wild Rye Lane on November 5, 2025. When officers arrived around 6:40 p.m., they found the victim bleeding heavily from multiple gunshot wounds. In agony but conscious, he told police that the shooters were his friends — known to him as “Tooka and Tavo.” He was rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment as investigators began piecing together the violent betrayal that unfolded that evening.

A Plan to “Smoke” Turns Into an Attempted Execution

The next day, investigators interviewed the victim at the hospital. He explained that Lamarian “Tavo” Jacobs had called earlier, asking to come over and smoke. Believing it was a normal visit, the victim let the brothers inside. But instead of settling in, both suspects were armed. According to the victim, Lamarian pointed a gun at him and demanded, “Give me everything.” A desperate struggle broke out as the victim attempted to wrestle the weapon away. In that moment, police say both brothers opened fire, shooting him repeatedly before fleeing.
When police executed a search warrant at the apartment, they found 7.62 and 5.56 caliber casings, a bloody $20 bill, and a bloody $5 bill—evidence of both violence and robbery. The victim also revealed he had $1,000 in cash and marijuana, which officers confirmed were missing from the apartment. Bleeding and alone, the victim crawled to the breezeway and screamed for help as the brothers escaped into the night.

Identified, Arrested, and Jailed on Massive Bond

On November 7, the victim was shown a six-person photo lineup, where he identified Lamarian Jacobs as “Tavo” and Dewayne Jacobs as “Tooka.” Police issued warrants, and on December 4, both brothers were arrested and committed to jail. They now face charges including criminal attempt first-degree murder, aggravated robbery, and employment of a firearm with intent to commit a felony. Their bond is set at $400,000 each, and they are due back in court on December 8.
The victim continues to recover from his gunshot wounds, while the community remains shaken that a planned hangout between friends turned into a nearly fatal ambush. The shocking betrayal highlights the rising violence tearing through Memphis neighborhoods—violence that, in this case, almost cost a man his life.