Alexander Bulakhov, who was shot and killed Downtown Sunday evening, Nov. 12, as he was walking with his wife and 2-year-old child, becomes the ninth person to be slain Downtown this year.

Bulakhov, 32, a researcher at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, was walking on Tennessee Street with his family when they were approached by a man in a ski mask and hoodie, according to the police affidavit.

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The male assailant demanded their property after brandishing a handgun, the affidavit said, and Bulakhov gave the man his wallet. The man then pointed the gun toward Bulakhov’s wife and demanded more.

Bulakhov began to struggle with the man over the firearm in an attempt to defend his wife, according to the affidavit.

The death continues the city’s march toward another possible record year of homicides. A total of 289 slayings have occurred in the city this year, according to the Memphis Data Hub. If negligent homicide, manslaughter and justifiable homicides are included, 334 deaths have been recorded since Jan. 1, 2023. A record 356 occurred in 2021. 

Officers located Bulakhov on the 400 block of Tennessee Street and transported him to Regional One Health in critical condition at 7:54 p.m. Sunday, but he did not survive.

He worked as a postdoctoral researcher at St. Jude.

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“We are deeply saddened by the loss of a valued member of the St. Jude community,” a St. Jude spokesperson said. “Our thoughts are with Alexander’s family, and we are working to support them during this difficult time.”

Bulakhov moved to Memphis in July to work at St. Jude, according to his LinkedIn.

He previously was in New York working as a postdoctoral researcher at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, School of Public Health. He also worked as a researcher and genetic engineer in Russia before his move to the United States.

Marious Ward, 23, and Brandy Rucker, 22, have been charged in connection with his killing. Memphis Police took them into custody Monday, Nov. 13.

The two were charged with first-degree murder, first-degree murder in perpetration of an aggravated robbery, especially aggravated robbery, criminal attempt first-degree murder, employing a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony and criminal attempt aggravated robbery.

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Both reportedly admitted to their roles in the crime after police took them into custody, according to the affidavit.

Neither Ward nor Rucker have a prior criminal record as adults or juveniles.

A SkyCop camera is positioned at Tennessee Street and West Butler Avenue. Memphis Police Department officials would not say whether the camera was operational at the time of the killing or if they were able to pull footage from the camera.

“All available information has been released at this time,” MPD Public Information Officer Mercedes Rodriguez said.

Detectives canvassed the street Monday morning and collected video from buildings along the street. The affidavit said video was obtained from the area and multiple surveillance cameras in the area, but it does not mention the SkyCop camera.

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A 2021 investigation by The Daily Memphian found that before MPD installed a majority of SkyCop cameras in 2010, the city reported more than 1,500 violent crimes per 100,000 people, a rate approaching four times the national average.

In 2020, with thousands of SkyCop cameras monitoring streets, the violent-crime rate was 2,351 per 100,000 — an increase of about 57% over 2010 and nearly six times the national average. 

The shooting comes amid heightened concern about crime Downtown.

The Downtown Memphis Commission recently hired the Public Safety Institute at the University of Memphis to develop a Downtown Safety Plan that includes 43 recommendations such as more police, better lighting and more connectivity between various parts of Downtown. 

However, that plan mostly focuses on the core of Downtown, not primarily residential areas like where the incident occurred.

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‘We all ought to be coming together’

The shooting death of Bulakhov is the latest in a continuing crime problem that made its way into the discussion at the beginning of Monday’s Shelby County Commission meeting.

Commission chairman pro tempore Charlie Caswell said Memphis-Shelby County Schools board member Stephanie Love texted him that a 17-year old student from Trezevant High School died of his injuries after being shot while walking home from the school.

Police reported the shooting in the 2500 block of Nunnelee Avenue, about a block from the school campus. The unidentified teenager died later from his wounds at Regional One Health.

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A speaker at the commission meeting complained that commissioners weren’t paying enough attention to the details of other items and were “obfuscating” by talking about the shooting and other matters not relevant to the meeting.

“I find that incredibly troubling,” Commissioner Mick Wright said at the end of the meeting. “As we’ve been sitting here, in Frayser, someone has been shot and killed. We’ve got to get a handle on the crime in Memphis and Shelby County.

“But it’s very discouraging for me to hear someone discount what’s happening in communities like Frayser. We all ought to be coming together. And particularly in these areas that are suffering from so much violence.”

Mayor-elect and Downtown Memphis Commission President Paul Young said he was appalled and saddened by the events of the weekend and Bulakhov’s slaying.

“Today, I am a Memphian, a father, a husband, and a parent first,” Young said in a statement. “Today, I am just like you. I feel the anger, frustration and grief that has enveloped our community. And even though the suspects have been arrested and charged, this will not change the outcome of this tragedy.

“My heart goes out to his family and families of all of those impacted by violence in our community. My prayers are with them.”

Young’s statement continued by saying that as mayor-elect and DMC president, he is in regular contact with MPD and his transition team is working on a “hard-hitting” crime plan that will launch within the administration’s first 100 days.

“We will develop the strategy with MPD and will convene those needed to combat this lawlessness, including key community partners and members of the justice system,” Young’s statement said. “Crime is, unfortunately, an American problem, not specific to Memphis, and it’s going to take a multi-pronged, hard-hitting, and focused effort to turn it around.

“We are ready.”

Bill Dries contributed to this report.