MEMPHIS, TN – Shelby County District Attorney Bill Gibbons announced Tuesday that, at the request of the District Attorney’s Office, a Juvenile Court referee transferred a 14-year-old charged with murder to Criminal Court to be prosecuted as an adult for allegedly shooting and killing another teen.
The referee transferred Donald Rivers, who has been charged with second degree murder, attempted second degree murder and employment of a firearm during commission of a dangerous felony. Rivers will be transferred to the Shelby County Jail. The referee ordered he be held without bond.
Rivers is charged with shooting and killing Reginald Crawford, 18, on February 24 on Eastview Drive just north of Walnut Grove Road near East High School. He is also charged with trying to shoot another victim who was with Crawford at the time.
“Our decision to seek a transfer on Donald Rivers was not an easy one,” said District Attorney Gibbons. “It is imperative that we send the strongest message possible that we will hold those who engage in this kind of violence fully accountable under our state laws. Gun violence will not be tolerated. It never resolves disputes. It almost always escalates them, all the while jeopardizing innocent lives. The shooting of Reginald Crawford took place within walking distance of East High School, a large open shopping center, heavily-traveled Walnut Grove Road, and the Benjamin Hooks main library. Any number of people could have been hit by that bullet that morning,” he said.
It is the policy of the District Attorney’s Office to request that juveniles who are 16 or 17 years old be transferred to Criminal Court if they are charged with committing a violent crime or using a weapon on school property. The D.A.’s Office also carefully reviews cases in which a juvenile under 16 is charged with committing a violent crime to determine if a request to transfer the juvenile is appropriate.
Second degree murder is a charge covered by the D.A.’s “No Deals” policy on violent crimes. The policy also applies to juveniles who are prosecuted as adults. If convicted, Rivers faces up to 25 years for the second degree murder charge, up to 12 years for the attempted second degree murder charge and a mandatory sentence of 10 years for the employment of a firearm during commission of a dangerous felony.
Assistant District Attorneys Terre Fratesi, Melissa Boyd and Ray Lepone handled the transfer hearing. Fratesi is the D.A.’s lead prosecutor in Juvenile Court. Boyd is assigned to Juvenile Court. Lepone is the deputy director of the D.A.’s Gang and Narcotics Prosecution Unit. |