Argument Leads to Murder Indictment
An ongoing argument that spanned some 12 hours and two separate locations last fall has led to murder charges for a man alleged to have ended it with early-morning gunfire, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.
April 26, 2021 – An ongoing argument that spanned some 12 hours and two separate locations last fall has led to murder charges for a man alleged to have ended it with early-morning gunfire, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.
A grand jury indicted defendant Brandon J. Richardson, 33, on one count of second-degree murder. He is free on $300,000 bond.
The incident occurred around 5 a.m. on Oct. 24, 2020, outside a home in the 1600 block of National St. near Chelsea and Jackson avenues in northeast Memphis.
Investigators said Richardson’s brother and victim Cortez Milan, 21, were involved in a dispute that began about 5 p.m. the previous day at the residence on National. The argument later turned into an altercation when Milan drove to Richardson’s residence in Raleigh looking for his brother.
Hours later, at around 5 a.m., Milan outside his residence on National when Richardson walked up with a handgun in one hand and an assault-style rifle in the other. Investigators said he began shooting, striking Milan multiple times and killing him.
Richardson was taken into custody and charged about five days later.
The case is being handled by Senior Felony Assistant Neil Umsted of the District Attorney’s Vertical Team 3 which handles cases in General Sessions Division 11 and in Criminal Court Division 3.
Man Indicted in Shooting Death of Clerk
A Memphis man has been indicted on felony murder charges in the death of a service station clerk during an attempted robbery last year in which gunfire was exchanged, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.
April 23, 2021 – A Memphis man has been indicted on felony murder charges in the death of a service station clerk during an attempted robbery last year in which gunfire was exchanged, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.
A grand jury indicted Trevell Shipp, 23, on counts of first-degree felony murder and attempted especially aggravated robbery. He is being held on $300,000 bond.
The incident occurred around 2 a.m. on Sept. 18, 2020, at the Mapco Station at 2214 Whitten Road where a gunman entered the store, threw a backpack at clerk Christopher Jones, and said “Fill it up.”
The two exchanged gunfire, resulting in Jones being struck in the chest. The gunman fled, leaving behind the backpack which had identification papers belonging to Shipp.
Jones, 36, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Shipp was charged and taken into custody four days later.
The case is being handled by Felony Assistant Stacy McEndree of the District Attorney’s Vertical Team 6 which handles cases in General Sessions Division 15 and in Criminal Court 10.
South Memphis Man Indicted in Homicide
A South Memphis man charged in the car-to-car shooting death of an acquaintance last October has been indicted on first-degree murder and other felony charges, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.
April 22, 2021 – A South Memphis man charged in the car-to-car shooting death of an acquaintance last October has been indicted on first-degree murder and other felony charges, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.
Sidney Baskerville Jr., 29, also was indicted on one count each of attempted first-degree murder, employment of a firearm in the commission of a dangerous felony, and convicted in possession of a firearm.
He is being held in the Shelby County Jail.
Investigators said 31-year-old Patrick King was stopped in his vehicle in the 1200 block of Azalia St. north of Trigg Ave. where, on Oct. 6, 2020, he was talking to a woman about a stolen tire.
Investigators said Baskerville drove up in another car, stopped briefly and then opened fire, striking King at least five times. King drove a short distance and when his car slowed down, his girlfriend in the passenger seat saw that he was shot and had slumped forward.
She slid in the driver’s seat and on King’s lap, then drove him to the hospital where he died.
Baskerville was taken into custody three days later and charged with murder.
The case is being handled by Felony Asst. Stacy McEndree of the District Attorney’s Vertical Team 6 which handles cases in General Sessions Division 15 and in Criminal Court Division 10.
Indictment in Fatal Shooting Downtown
A 19-year-old man was indicted Tuesday for allegedly shooting into a crowd last summer in a Downtown parking lot, killing one teen and wounding another, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.
April 21, 2021 – A 19-year-old man was indicted Tuesday for allegedly shooting into a crowd last summer in a Downtown parking lot, killing one teen and wounding another, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.
A grand jury indicted Kennedy Moment on counts of second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, reckless endangerment, employment of a firearm in the commission of a dangerous felony, and four counts of aggravated assault.
He is being held in the Shelby County Jail.
The incident occurred around 12:30 a.m. on July 5, 2020, in the Parkway Parking Lot at South Main between Peabody Place and Beale Street where a group of teens had gathered.
Investigators said an argument started and that Moment pulled a gun and began firing, striking 18-year-old Markus Williams in the head and a 19-year-old man in the ankle. Williams was taken to a hospital where he later died.
Moment was developed as a suspect and was arrested four days later.
The case is being handled by Senior Felony Asst. Sarah Poe with the District Attorney’s Vertical Team 4 which handles cases in General Sessions Division 12 and in Criminal Court Division 4.
Unity Walk News Conference Thursday
A news conference will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Martin Luther King Jr. Prep Academy highlighting a community Unity Walk Against Gun Violence to be held Saturday in Frayser.
April 21, 2021 – A news conference will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Martin Luther King Jr. Prep Academy highlighting a community Unity Walk Against Gun Violence to be held Saturday in Frayser.
The conference will be outdoors in front of the school at 1530 Dellwood Ave. with masks, social distancing and sign-up upon arrival.
Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich said speakers will include Dr. Bobby White, founder and CEO of Frayser Community Schools; Interim Memphis Police Director Mike Ryall; and Stevie Moore, president and founder of Freedom From Unnecessary Negatives (F.F.U.N.)
The Unity Walk Saturday will begin at 10 a.m. in the parking lot of the MLK Academy on Dellwood and will cover 1.9 miles. Assemble at 9:30 a.m.
Previous walks were held in November in the Midtown Medical Center and in February in Whitehaven, each drawing more than 500 participants.
Each walk begins with the group pledge:
See something. Say something. Your call counts.
Know where your kids are. Know your neighbors.
Join or start a Neighborhood Watch Group in your neighborhood.
Respect yourself and those around you. Violence is never the solution!
Ex-boyfriend Indicted in Murder, Kidnap
The former boyfriend of a Whitehaven woman has been indicted on multiple felony counts for allegedly shooting and abducting her last summer after killing a man at her home, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.
April 16, 2021 – The former boyfriend of a Whitehaven woman has been indicted on multiple felony counts for allegedly shooting and abducting her last summer after killing a man at her home, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.
Defendant Kevin B. Wright, 54, was indicted on counts of felony first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault, and employment of a firearm in the commission of a dangerous felony.
The 42-year-old woman had taken out an order of protection requiring Wright to stay away from her, but he broke into her home in the early-morning hours of July 19 last year and ambushed her and a male friend when they arrived.
Investigators said Wright immediately shot the woman in the leg, then went into another part of the house where he shot Arbin Bell Jr., 44, multiple times, killing him. The woman managed to crawl to her cell phone, call 911 and whisper “He shot me” before Wright forced her to leave with him in her car.
She persuaded him to take her to a nearby hospital, but when he saw police cars there he drove away at a high rate of speed. He later dropped her off in the Medical Center, a block from Regional One Health. Wright was arrested several days later in Lee County, Miss., and was returned to Memphis. He remains in custody without bond.
The case is being handled by Asst. Dist. Atty. Cavett Ostner of the District Attorney’s Domestic Violence Unit which prosecutes cases of domestic assault and homicide committed by intimate partners in General Sessions Division 10 and in Criminal Court Division 5.
Four Indicted in South Memphis Drive-Bys
Four men have been indicted on multiple felony charges stemming from two drive-by shootings of a South Memphis house in which an elderly woman, a 2-year-old girl and two others were critically wounded, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.
April 14, 2021 – Four men have been indicted on multiple felony charges stemming from two drive-by shootings of a South Memphis house in which an elderly woman, a 2-year-old girl and two others were critically wounded, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.
Police investigators collected some 130 spent shell casings from the shooting scene in the 1500 block of East McLemore where the two shootings occurred several hours apart on the afternoon of June 8, 2020.
Investigators said the two shootings endangered numerous people in and around the house, and critically injured a 70-year-old woman who was shot in both legs, a young girl who was struck in her leg, a 24-year-old man who was struck three times in the back, and another man, 26, who was shot in the leg.
The shootings, which occurred at around 3 p.m. and at 6:40 p.m., were captured on a porch camera at the home, showing the suspects drive up in a silver Mercedes and a black Mercedes G Wagon. A black Mercedes sedan also was involved in the second shooting.
The video shows the men stepping out of the vehicles armed with handguns and rifles and shooting multiple rounds at the home as those on the front porch run for cover. Police posted the video last year as they sought tips from the public.
A grand jury indicted brothers Jerrell Anderson Jr., 30, and Jerry Anderson, 28, Jaylon Hatch, 22, and Mitchell Hopkins, 25, on multiple felony counts, including attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, and employment of a firearm in the commission of a dangerous felony.
Hopkins, accompanied by his mother, was taken into custody at 201 Poplar this week after a visit to his mother’s home by the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force and by the Fugitive Apprehension Team of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.
Another suspect believed to be involved the attack was found shot to death along with another man on Aug. 14, 2020, in a car parked in the 4300 block of Falcon Drive in the Westwood area of southwest Memphis.
The case is being handled by Asst. Dist. Atty. Forrest Edwards of the District Attorney’s Vertical Prosecution Team 3 which handles cases in General Sessions Division 11 and in Criminal Court Division 3.
Five Indicted in Arlington Residential Homicide
Five people have been indicted for the killing last year of a businessman who was found shot to death in his Arlington home, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.
April 13, 2021 – Five people have been indicted for the killing last year of a businessman who was found shot to death in his Arlington home, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.
A grand jury indicted Demerion Golden, 24, Donquez Dabney, 23, Brooke Lurry, 21, and Frederick Ware, 24, on first-degree murder, especially aggravated robbery, especially aggravated burglary and employment of a firearm in the commission of a dangerous felony. All are in custody.
The grand jury also indicted Ware’s mother, Donna Bailey, 39, also known as Donna Ware, on felony charges of accessory after the fact. She is free on bond.
According to Shelby County Sheriff’s Office investigators, Samuel Hare, 54, was found dead in his home around 5:40 a.m. on Dec. 16, 2020, after a passing deputy noticed a front door open at his residence in the 12000 block of Noble Oak Drive in Arlington.
Ware had been shot in an upstairs bedroom. Investigators developed the defendants as suspects in the case in which Ware’s vehicle and items from inside the residence were stolen.
The case is being handled by Asst. Dist. Atty. Joseph Griffith of the District Attorney’s Crime Strategies & Narcotics Prosecution Unit which handles cases involving gang members and violent crimes, including homicides, aggravated robberies, kidnappings, rapes, criminal-attempt murders and narcotics trafficking.
Card-Game Killing Indictment Returned
A man who allegedly fired into a group of card players last year in South Memphis has been indicted on a count of first-degree murder, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.
April 12, 2021 – A man who allegedly fired into a group of card players last year in South Memphis has been indicted on a count of first-degree murder, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.
A grand jury indicted Derrick Conway, 32, in the shooting that occurred on May 24, 2020, in a field in the 400 block of Cambridge Avenue.
He is being held in the Shelby County Jail.
Investigators said several men were at a table playing cards outdoors when Conway drove up, said something to one of the men and then began firing. They said Freddie Sledge, 49, was struck multiple times, but that he was not the intended target.
Sledge was taken to a hospital where he died a short time later.
Conway was identified by witnesses and was arrested two weeks later.
The case is being handled by Asst. Dist. Atty. Jeff Jones of the District Attorney’s Special Prosecution Unit (SPU) in Criminal Court Division 8. The SPU seeks maximum sentencing for repeat felony offenders.
Car Owner Indicted in Shooting of Teen
A Cordova man has been indicted on second-degree murder charges in the shooting death of a teen who he said was breaking into his vehicle last year, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.
April 9, 2021 – A Cordova man has been indicted on second-degree murder charges in the shooting death of a teen who he said was breaking into his vehicle last year, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.
A grand jury indicted 23-year-old Alfred Kirkham III in the incident that occurred the evening of Oct. 12, 2020, outside his apartment on Arbor Bend Lane in Cordova. He is free on $150,000 bond.
Investigators said Kirkham told them he saw Eric Key, 15, breaking into his vehicle and that he confronted the teen and fired shots when he thought Key was reaching for a weapon in his waistband.
Key then fled and Kirkham chased him, firing more shots. Key was pronounced dead at the scene. No weapon was found on the teen.
The case is being handled by Asst. Dist. Atty. Robert Steele of the District Attorney’s Vertical Team 4 which handles cases in General Sessions Division 12 and in Criminal Court Division 4.
Alleged Shooter Indicted in Drive-Up Homicide
A 24-year-old man has been indicted in a drive-up homicide outside a Hickory Hill residence where the victim’s children were playing basketball, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.
April 9, 2021 – A 24-year-old man has been indicted in a drive-up homicide outside a Hickory Hill residence where the victim’s children were playing basketball, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.
A grand jury indicted Cedrick D. Crawford on counts of first-degree murder in the perpetration of a felony and especially aggravated robbery. He is being held without bond in the Shelby County Jail.
Investigators said the shooting occurred on Sept. 20, 2020, at a residence in the 6500 block of Rocky Park Drive after a motorist sped by and nearly struck three children who were playing basketball.
They said the motorist turned around, drove back to the house and asked the children “Where’s your daddy?” Moments later Camron Dickson, 27, came out of the house holding an assault-style rifle.
Investigators said Crawford and Dickson exchanged words and that as Dickson turned to go back inside, Crawford shot him several times in the back. The defendant then exited his vehicle, picked up the rifle Dickson had been holding and then drove away.
Crawford was arrested a month later after a foot chase following a traffic stop on North Highland near Summer Avenue.
The case is being handled by Chief Prosecutor Stephanie Johnson of the District Attorney’s Vertical Team 2 which handles cases in General Sessions Division 9 and Criminal Court Division 2.
Frayser Shooting Leads to Indictment
A 21-year-old man who allegedly began shooting when an acquaintance refused to sell him a gun has been indicted on first-degree murder and other felony charges, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.
April 8, 2021 – A 21-year-old man who allegedly began shooting when an acquaintance refused to sell him a gun has been indicted on first-degree murder and other felony charges, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.
A grand jury also indicted defendant Jayten Galloway on counts of attempted first-degree murder and employment of a firearm in the commission of a dangerous felony. He is in custody in the Shelby County Jail.
The shooting occurred on July 29, 2019, following a brief meeting between Galloway and two other men seated in a car in the 2700 block of North Trezevant Street in Frayser.
Investigators said that when 23-year-old Keniya Johnson refused to sell a gun that Galloway wanted, the defendant shot him and a 26-year-old companion who was in the driver’s seat. Both were struck multiple times.
The companion drove to a fire station in the 2500 block of Whitney to report the shooting and to seek help.
Galloway was arrested a short time later.
The case is being handled by Asst. Dist. Atty. Doug Carriker of the District Attorney’s Crime Strategies and Narcotics Prosecution Unit which incorporates and expands the work of the Multi-Agency Gang Unit, the Organized Crime Unit, Project Safe Neigborhoods/GunDone, GunStat, the Safe Streets Task Force and the Violent Crime Unit.
Man Indicted in Death of Millington Teen
A 21-year-old north Shelby County man was indicted Tuesday on felony murder charges in the shooting death last November of a Millington teen, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.
April 6, 2021 – A 21-year-old north Shelby County man was indicted Tuesday on felony murder charges in the shooting death last November of a Millington teen, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.
Defendant Desmond Goodwyn of Drummonds was indicted on counts of first-degree murder in the perpetration of a robbery, especially aggravated robbery and aggravated robbery. He is being held in the Shelby County Jail.
Investigators with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office said they found 15-year-old Jonathan Gonzales of Millington dead from a gunshot wound to the chest around 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 29, 2020, in the 6000 block of Covington Pike Road.
Goodwyn and another man had planned to make a purchase from the victim and his older brother when the shooting occurred, investigators said.
The case is being handled by Senior Felony Asst. Neil Umsted of the District Attorney’s Vertical Team 3 which handles cases in General Sessions Division 11 and in Criminal Court Division 3.
Neighbor Indicted in Homicide, Arson Case
A North Memphis man has been indicted for allegedly setting his neighbor’s car on fire and then shooting the neighbor as he came to investigate, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.
April 1, 2021 – A North Memphis man has been indicted for allegedly setting his neighbor’s car on fire and then shooting the neighbor as he came to investigate, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.
Defendant L. A. Parrish, 53, was indicted on counts of first-degree murder, setting fire to personal property and convicted felon in possession of a firearm. He is being held in the Shelby County Jail.
The incident occurred around 5:30 p.m. on July 2, 2020, in a neighborhood in the 1400 block of Lake Grove St. near Warford Street and Chelsea Avenue.
Witnesses said they saw Parrish with a pistol in one hand and a gas can in the other as he walked toward the home of neighbor, 51-year-old James Dowdy. They said Parrish poured gas on Dowdy’s car in the driveway, set it on fire, and then returned to his home nearby where he watched from his car.
When Dowdy came to inspect his burning car, Parrish walked up and shot him several times, witnesses said. Dowdy was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators said there had been an ongoing dispute between the men.
Parrish drove away, but was arrested a short time later at a nearby residence.
The case is being handled by Chief Prosecutor Karen Cook of the District Attorney’s Special Prosecution Unit (SPU) in Criminal Court Division 8. SPU seeks maximum sentencing for repeat felony offenders.
Online Seller Indicted in Double Shooting
A 19-year-old man has been indicted for allegedly shooting two Oakland, Tenn., men who responded to his online offer to sell a gun last November, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.
April 1, 2021 – A 19-year-old man has been indicted for allegedly shooting two Oakland, Tenn., men who responded to his online offer to sell a gun last November, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.
Defendant Juan de Paz Mondragon, 19, was indicted on first-degree murder in the perpetration of a robbery, attempted first-degree murder, especially aggravated robbery and employment of a firearm in the commission of a dangerous felony.
He is in custody in the Shelby County Jail.
Police were called around 3 p.m. on Nov. 1, 2020, to the 2700 block of Eveningview Road in the Bartlett area where they found 21-year-old Tyler Wolfe dead in the front passenger seat of a pickup truck. He had been shot multiple times.
A 24-year-old companion in the driver’s seat also was shot several times and was hospitalized with critical injuries.
Mondragon was developed as a suspect and was arrested the following day.
The case is being handled by Senior Felony Asst. Neil Umsted and Asst. Dist. Atty. Brad Reasonover of the District Attorney’s Vertical Team 3 which handles cases in General Sessions Division 11 and in Criminal Court Division 3.
Three Teens Indicted in Car-to-Car Fatal Shooting
Three men have been indicted in a car-to-car shooting last year in Northaven that resulted in the death of a passenger in one vehicle, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.
March 31, 2021 – Three men have been indicted in a car-to-car shooting last year in Northaven that resulted in the death of a passenger in one vehicle, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.
A grand jury indicted Rodricus Brown, 16, and Tyler Rodgers, 17, on counts of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and employment of a firearm in the commission of a dangerous felony.
Rodgers also was indicted on another homicide that occurred a week later.
Kobe McAfee, 19, was indicted on felony counts of facilitation of first-degree murder and facilitation of attempted first-degree murder.
Shelby County Sheriff’s Office investigators said the drivers of the two cars encountered one another shortly after 5 p.m. on June 19, 2020, and a rolling dispute began as they traveled for several blocks when gang signs allegedly were flashed by one of the drivers.
At Northaven Drive and N. Circle Road shots were fired from one vehicle, striking 21-year-old Michael Phillips multiple times while in the front seat of the other vehicle.
The driver he was with drove to North Watkins and Corning where they met with police and paramedics who pronounced Phillips dead.
On Tuesday, the grand jury also indicted Rodgers in another case on counts of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and employment of a firearm in the commission of a dangerous felony.
Rodgers is accused of killing 27-year-old Andrew Landfair and wounding another man on the night of June 26, 2020, in the 3200 block of Aden Street in Fayser.
A codefendant, Markalon Lewis, 20, was indicted on the same charges.
The case is being handled by Chief Prosecutor Stephanie Johnson of the District Attorney’s Vertical Team 2 which handles cases in General Sessions Division 9 and in Criminal Court Division 2.
Man Sentenced to Life in Stabbing Death
A Memphis man who beat and repeatedly stabbed his girlfriend in front of her young daughter in 2016 pled guilty to first-degree murder Tuesday and was sentenced to life in prison, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.
March 30, 2021 – A Memphis man who beat and repeatedly stabbed his girlfriend in front of her young daughter in 2016 pled guilty to first-degree murder Tuesday and was sentenced to life in prison, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.
Defendant Raymond Lynn Clark, 45, already is under a life sentence in Georgia for beating and raping a woman in Atlanta three months after he fled there following the Memphis attack.
He pled guilty before Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Chris Craft to killing Zeneatrice Crawford, 40, on June 24, 2016, during an argument in the front seat of her car.
Her 11-year-old daughter and an 8-year-old girlfriend witnessed the attack from the back seat.
Crawford was stabbed more than 50 times by Clark who then drove to 700 block of Whitney Avenue in the Frayser area and left her body in an overgrown area near a vacant house.
After tying up the two young girls and leaving them at another vacant house in the 1700 block of Alta Vista near Frayser Park, Clark drove to Atlanta where he worked for a short time at a car wash in DeKalb County.
On Aug. 25, 2016, he beat, raped and kidnapped a 32-year-old woman he met there. He was tried and convicted in December of 2017, and was sentenced to life in prison.
The Memphis case was handled by Chief Prosecutor Eric Christensen of the District Attorneys Special Victims Unit (SPU) and by Asst. Dist. Atty. Abby Wallace of the District Attorney’s Special Prosecution Unit.
The SVU prosecutes cases of rape, aggravated rape, child sexual abuse, severe physical abuse of child victims, elder abuse and vulnerable adult abuse. The unit was created in 2010 as an expansion of the multi-agency Child Protection Investigative Team (CPIT).
The SPU seeks maximum sentencing for repeat felony offenders.
Clark has seven prior felony convictions.
Task Force Interdiction Team Named Best
The West Tennessee Drug Task Force’s (WTDTF) interdiction team was named 2020 Team of the Year by the six-state Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) at the federal agency’s annual conference this week in Biloxi, Miss., said Task Force Director Johnie Carter.
March 26, 2021 – The West Tennessee Drug Task Force’s (WTDTF) interdiction team was named 2020 Team of the Year by the six-state Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) at the federal agency’s annual conference this week in Biloxi, Miss., said Task Force Director Johnie Carter.
The nine members of the team that patrols Interstate 40 in Shelby, Fayette and Haywood counties last year conducted more than 140 stops resulting in a number of significant seizures with a total street value of more than $100 million.
“Everything these officers do saves lives in Tennessee,” said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich, chairman of the WTDTF Board of Directors. “Their daily mission is removing deadly drugs and criminals from our streets. We couldn’t be prouder of them for this national recognition.”
The seizures included marijuana, heroin, Fentanyl, and other dangerous drugs, as well as U.S. currency. More than 30 percent of the stops involved subject affiliated with or identified to federal investigations.
Also, WTDTF Agent Michael Thomas, who is assigned from the Memphis Police Department, received an award for the year’s largest dangerous drug seizure - 8.8 pounds of Fentanyl.
“The passion and determination of these agents to rid Tennessee of drugs and violent crime is unmatched,” said Carter. “Besides drugs, our Agents frequently catch wanted persons for murder, rapes and other violent crimes as well as uncover human trafficking, credit card and identity theft rings and hosts of other crimes.”
The Gulf Coast HIDTA aims to reduce illegal drug trafficking through coordinated efforts of some 932 agencies in its region along the major drug corridors of I-40, I-10 and I-20 to the Mexican border. The Gulf Coast region includes Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Shelby County, Tennessee.
The WTDF operates by joint agreement of Tennessee’s District Attorneys for the 28th Judicial District (Frederick Agee), 29th Judicial District (Danny Goodman Jr.) and 30th Judicial District (Amy Weirich), and also includes members assigned from Fayette County Sheriff Bobby Riles and Haywood County Sheriff Billy Garrett Jr., and Memphis, Germantown and Oakland Police Departments.
Fayette County, which is in the 25th Judicial District (Mark Davidson), includes about 15 miles of I-40.
Case Involving Body Behind Church Leads to Murder Indictment
A 27-year-old man has been indicted on murder charges stemming from the discovery of a body last summer behind a South Memphis church, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.
March 26, 2021 – A 27-year-old man has been indicted on murder charges stemming from the discovery of a body last summer behind a South Memphis church, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.
Defendant Durrell Davis, aka Durrell Mickens, was indicted on counts of first-degree murder and convicted felon in possession of a handgun. He is being held in the Shelby County Jail.
Investigators said that around 8 a.m. on July 21, 2020, police discovered the body of 27-year-old Derrick Biggs behind LeMoyne Truevine MB Church at 578 Lucy Ave. He had been shot multiple times.
Nearby residents reported hearing gunshots the previous night coming from the vicinity of the church.
The case is being handled by Asst. Dist. Atty. Abby Wallace of the District Attorney’s Special Prosecution Unit (SPU) in Criminal Court Division 8. The SPU seeks maximum sentencing for repeat felony offenders.
Man Indicted in Shooting of Acquaintance
A Memphis man was indicted Tuesday in the shooting death last summer of an acquaintance following a brief altercation at a gas station on Getwell Road, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.
March 24, 2021 – A Memphis man was indicted Tuesday in the shooting death last summer of an acquaintance following a brief altercation at a gas station on Getwell Road, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.
A grand jury indicted Willie D. Patterson, 34, on one count of second-degree murder. He is being held in the Shelby County Jail.
The incident occurred around 8 p.m. on July 20, 2020, at 1651 Getwell Road at New Willow Road. Witnesses said Patterson and Donald Bunch, 34, exchanged words and that Bunch then punched Patterson in the face.
Patterson staggered briefly, then pulled a gun and began firing at Bunch, who took cover in the back seat of a vehicle. Witnesses said Patterson continued shooting and then fled on foot.
Bunch was pronounced dead at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds.
Patterson was arrested five months later in Columbus, Ga., and was returned to Memphis.
The case is being handled by Asst. Dist. Atty. J. D. Hamblen of the District Attorney’s Vertical Team 5 which handles cases in General Sessions Division 13 and Criminal Court Division 9.