There are stenciled spray-painted words and images, signs and banners on overpasses and bus benches throughout Memphis, saying, “If you knew him, you wouldn’t have murdered him,” and “who killed the pizza man? Call 528-CASH.”
University of Memphis student John Stambaugh III, 20, was shot between 10:45 and midnight at 2188 Young Ave. on Sunday Sept. 8 while delivering pizza, Memphis Inspector of Crimes against persons Matt McCann said.
Spray-paint stenciled memorials and banners have been seen in the Cooper-Young area and Central, as well as at the Patterson bus stop here on campus.
At 10 p.m., a pizza order was placed with Pizza Hut by Christina Ames of 2188 Young Avenue. According to Ames’ account, the pizza was delivered around 10:45, she tipped Stambaugh, and he left.
According to Elizabeth Phillips, a friend of Stambaugh, his last run was usually around 10:45 p.m., so the run to 2188 Young Ave. was probably his last run of the night.
McCann said Ames went downstairs from her apartment around midnight and saw Stambaugh in his vehicle with the vehicle running.
Ames went and told others in her apartment to come downstairs to investigate the situation, and they found Stambaugh slumped over in the car.
After a call to 911, paramedics arrived.
Stambaugh had been shot, and was dead on arrival.
According to McCann, there are no witnesses and no one is in custody.
McCann said that they know how he was shot, with what, and whether or not he was robbed, but have decided to withhold the information for the good of the investigation. Not giving all of the details allows investigators to better question suspects and to better prioritize tips, McCann said.
There have been some calls to Memphis Crime Stopper, 528-CASH, and all leads have been followed, McCann said.
“So far,” McCann said, “they have not been fruitful.”
The case is still active, and because it is a homicide, the investigation will not terminate, according to McCann.
“The case may grow dormant, but there is no statute of limitations for homicide,” McCann said.
Bob Hughes, adjunct faculty in the department of human movement, had Stambaugh as a student in his Tuesday and Thursday Yoga class.
Before and around Sept. 11th, Hughes said he shared with his classes about Stambough’s death to give students time to think silently about the lives lost both in New York and here in Memphis.
“Life is precious,” Hughes said. “He was in class Thursday, and Sunday night he was gone.”
“Appreciate your loved ones because you never know when your time is up,” Hughes told his classes.
Phillips said that Stambaugh was a memorable guy, and many miss him.
Funeral services were held Saturday in St. Petersburg, FL. The family requests that memorials be sent to Crime Stoppers: Escrow Account: John Stambaugh III.
“He was one of those sweet, funny, wild kids, but not in a bad way,” Phillips said.
“I can’t think of any reason,” Phillips said. “He had no enemies. All I can think of is that it must have been gang violence or random violence. All I know is that it is surprising and awful, and too soon.”
