Ricky Floyd Death – A beloved Memphis pastor met a tragic end in the early hours of Wednesday, March 12, 2025, when a confrontation outside a South Memphis bar escalated into deadly gunfire.
Ricky Floyd, the Senior Lead Pastor of Pursuit of God Transformation Center and a pillar of faith in the community, was shot and killed just after 1:20 a.m. outside Momma’s Bar at 855 Kentucky Street, leaving his congregation and the city reeling.
The suspect, identified as 42-year-old Samantha Marion, was swiftly taken into custody and now faces a charge of voluntary manslaughter. The violent encounter, captured in part by surveillance footage, unfolded in the shadow of a gritty stretch of Kentucky Street, a stone’s throw from the Mississippi River’s banks in a neighborhood known for its resilience amid hardship.
Floyd, a towering figure in Memphis’s spiritual landscape, led Pursuit of God Transformation Center with a mission to uplift and inspire. As the founder of Salvation Revelation Ministries, a nonprofit dedicated to community outreach and spiritual growth, he was a beacon of hope for many, channeling his energy into initiatives that bridged faith and service.
According to witnesses, the fatal chain of events began with a heated argument between Floyd and Marion inside Momma’s Bar, a local haunt where the hum of late-night chatter often spills into the streets. The dispute grew volatile, drawing the pair outside into the cool March air.
Police say surveillance video revealed a tense exchange: Floyd, in a moment of frustration, hurled Marion’s phone to the ground and tossed a beer can, actions that seemed to fan the flames of their clash.
As the confrontation reached its breaking point, Floyd climbed into his vehicle and began to drive away, perhaps intending to leave the chaos behind. But something—anger, unfinished words, or a fleeting impulse—compelled him to stop.
He stepped out, turning back toward Marion, closing the distance between them. It was then, authorities say, that Marion drew a firearm and opened fire, striking Floyd with lethal precision. He collapsed on the pavement, his life extinguished in an instant beneath the glow of streetlights.
Memphis police descended on the scene, their flashing lights piercing the pre-dawn stillness as they secured the area and pieced together the night’s tragic arc. Marion remained at the scene, her fate now in the hands of the justice system as investigators delve into the moments that led to the shooting. Was it a sudden act of rage, a culmination of simmering tensions, or something else entirely? For now, the answers remain elusive.
Floyd’s death marks a profound loss for South Memphis, where his ministry touched countless lives, offering guidance and solace in a community too often scarred by violence. As news spread, tributes poured in from congregants and neighbors alike, their voices thick with grief for a man who preached redemption yet fell victim to a fleeting, fatal encounter.
The investigation continues, but for those who knew him, the focus rests not on how Ricky Floyd died, but on the legacy he leaves behind in a city forever changed by his absence.
