Memphis, TN – Houston-based rapper Sauce Walka, whose real name is Albert Walker Mondane, is recovering in the hospital after a targeted shooting outside a downtown Memphis hotel on Saturday, March 22, 2025. The incident, which took place near the FedExForum around 2:42 p.m., left the 34-year-old artist with a non-critical leg injury, while an unidentified man accompanying him was fatally shot, according to local authorities.
Rapper Sauce Walka Is Recovering Following ‘Targeted’ Shooting Outside a Memphis Hotel: Reports https://t.co/G3EZNhrAvx
— People (@people) March 23, 2025
Memphis Police Department officials described the attack as a deliberate drive-by shooting. Reports indicate that multiple suspects emerged from a white four-door vehicle, opened fire on the victims without any prior interaction, and then fled the scene. The shooting occurred outside the Westin Hotel, prompting a swift response from the Memphis Police and Fire Departments. B.B. King Boulevard was temporarily closed between Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and Beale Street as authorities secured the area.
Sauce Walka, a prominent figure in Houston’s rap scene since 2007, is expected to make a full recovery, his family confirmed to media outlets. The rapper, known for founding the independent label The Sauce Factory (TSF), was reportedly shopping with the unidentified man at the time of the attack. While police have not officially confirmed the identity of the deceased, unverified social media reports have speculated that the victim may be Sayso P, an artist signed to TSF and a rising name in Houston’s rap community.
Authorities have identified the suspect vehicle and are actively investigating the incident, emphasizing that it was not a random act of violence. “This appears to be a targeted shooting incident,” a Memphis Police representative stated during a press conference, according to the Houston Chronicle. The department is urging anyone with information to contact Memphis CrimeStoppers to assist in the ongoing investigation.
Sauce Walka, who began his career under the name A-Walk and later gained recognition with solo mixtapes starting in 2014, has been a significant influence in Southern hip-hop. Fans and fellow artists have taken to social media to express relief at his recovery while mourning the loss of the second victim in this tragic incident. As the investigation continues, the Memphis community remains on edge following the brazen daylight attack.
