Alexander Bulakhov: GoFundMe for Tennessee doctor killed while defending family from robbery raises $53,367
Christopher Duran
Updated on March 27, 2026
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE: Alexander Bulakhov, a Tennessee doctor was killed while bravely attempting to protect his wife and toddler during a robbery in Memphis.
On Sunday, November 12, the 32-year-old man was his wife Anastasia Bulakhov were out on a walk with their two-year-old daughter when the tragic incident took place after a man wearing a ski mask and brandishing a firearm approached the family.
Who are the suspects in Alexander Bulakhov's death?
According to the affidavit obtained by People, the man who approached the family has been identified as Marious Ward who allegedly "demanded property" from the couple.
The situation escalated after Bulakhov surrendered what was in his wallet, including identification and credit card.
At the time, the assailant "pointed the firearm directly" at Anastasia, prompting Bulakhov to intervene and attempt to defend his wife.
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However, the gun was discharged during the struggle, and the research doctor was severely injured.
Despite being rushed to the hospital, he succumbed to his injuries, according to the press release issued by the Memphis Police Department said in a press release.
Speaking to People, Sergeant Louis Brownlee of the Memphis Police Department stated that authorities have launched a homicide investigation, leading to the discovery that the killing was the result of a botched robbery.
Surveillance footage showed a white vehicle with "distinct" damages in which the suspects fled the scene.
Through a traffic stop on Monday, November 13, Ward and his alleged accomplice Brandy Rucker were arrested.
Rucker reportedly told authorities she drove the vehicle at the time of the murder and helped Ward flee the incident after he shot Bulakhov.
Who was Alexander Bulakhov?
A GoFundMe set up for the victim stated that Bulakhov and his family recently relocated to the area for Alexander's postdoctoral fellowship at St Jude Children's Hospital.
The fundraiser explained Anastasia's difficulty in taking care of her family at the time as she has yet to begin her employment. As of Friday morning, November 17, the page has raised over $53,367.
The GoFundMe identified the two-year-old child as Barbara. A second fundraiser launched by Bulakhov's employers stated that the amount raised "will help provide the much-needed stability and aid in the absence of Alexander’s sole source of income for the family."
What are the charges against Marious Ward and Brandy Rucker?
The affidavit alleges that Ward "confessed to being the gunman responsible."
Both Ward and Rucker who are scheduled to appear in court on December 1 have been charged with attempted murder and first-degree murder using a firearm to commit a crime.
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