South Station Stabbing Victim Was Killed by a Friend Over $25, His Mother Says

A 29-year-old man from Memphis, Tennessee, was stabbed and killed inside South Station in Boston during the evening rush hour on Wednesday. His mother says the attack was not random — it was a fight between people who knew each other, and it started over a $25 unpaid cell phone bill. The victim has been identified by his mother as Latavious Owens, though Boston police have not officially released his name. Owens had come to Boston earlier this month to raise money for a youth basketball program back home in Memphis.

Boston police Superintendent Paul McLaughlin told reporters on Thursday that the killing 'was not a random attack.' Officers with the MBTA Transit Police arrived at the Red Line station around 5:30 p.m. and found Owens with at least one stab wound on an escalator. He was taken to a hospital, where he later died. As of Friday, no arrests had been made, and police say the suspect was able to escape South Station.

Owens' mother, Shermanda McNeal, spoke to reporters by phone from her home in Memphis on Friday morning. She said her son had gotten into an argument with someone from a different neighborhood in Memphis — someone who was also in Boston to raise money. The argument turned violent, and Owens was stabbed. 'Friends have altercations but we never knew that it was gonna be like that,' she said. 'He killed my son for $25.'

McNeal said her son and his friends made trips to cities like Boston, especially in the spring and summer, to collect donations for a youth sports program at a Memphis community center. She said the money went toward things like jerseys and sneakers for young athletes. They sometimes sold candy to help raise funds and enjoyed seeing new places while supporting a good cause. 'He would do anything to try to help somebody,' she said.

Before his death, Owens had also performed as what is known as a Beale Street flipper. These are street performers in Memphis who do gymnastics and acrobatic tricks — like back handsprings — on the city's famous Beale Street, often earning tips from tourists. Rollin Riggs, who runs a group called the Beale Street Flippers, said Owens never worked directly for him, but described the performers as a 'very loose confederation of guys' who grew up together or knew each other through the community. Riggs said he was saddened to hear about the violence that took the life of a fellow Memphis native.

However, police and court records raise some questions about the fundraising trips. In October 2025, Boston police warned residents about people near South Station asking for donations for a football team or selling candy, and advised people to verify any charity before giving money. Court records show that Owens was arrested in Medford, Massachusetts, in 2024 and charged with scamming a store employee out of $90 while selling candy bars outside a Wegmans. Those charges were later dropped by prosecutors.

McNeal strongly denied that her son was doing anything dishonest. She said he was working hard to support a real youth sports program and cared deeply about helping young people. At the scene Wednesday night, yellow caution tape blocked off the bloody escalator, and police directed travelers to a nearby elevator. City Councilor Ed Flynn, whose district includes South Station, called for more police officers to keep transit areas safe, saying, 'We have to provide a safer and healthier environment for passengers.'

McNeal says she hopes to bring her son's body back to Memphis so her family can say a proper goodbye. A fundraising page has been set up to help cover the costs. Owens had planned to return home this weekend.