 Bringing Homicide Loss Support Groups to Shelby County
Have you lost a loved one to homicide? Do you sometimes feel alone in your pain? Do you wish you could find a group of people who are experiencing what you are going through? Do you wish you could find the tools to create a “new normal” in your life?
If these questions got your attention, we want to hear from you. I am working with Tennessee Voices for Victims and the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference on a plan to start support groups in our community for people who have lost loved ones to homicide.
But first, we need to know if there is any interest in the community for this. We know there is a need. Too many families are walking this path. Our goal is to connect you, so you can support one another and work through your grief together.
First step, let us know you are interested in this by filling in this form. And then look for more information in the future.
This project was supported by Award No. 2018-V2-GX-0024 awarded by the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice through the Tennessee Office of Criminal Justice Programs. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office for Victims of Crime or the State of Tennessee Office of Criminal Justice Programs.
 Swearing In Honorary Officer Devarjaye "DJ" Daniel
The SCDAG Office, represented by Deputy District Attorney General Ray Lepone and Criminal Investigative Division Supervisor Kurt Philips, was honored to join the Memphis Police Department, Shelby County Sheriff's Office, and other law enforcement agencies in swearing in honorary officer Devarjaye "DJ" Daniel at the MPD Training Academy.
DJ, of Houston, Texas, has been diagnosed with terminal brain and spinal cancer. His dream is to be sworn in by as many law enforcement agencies as possible, and he has been travelling across the country with his father and 2 brothers hoping to achieve his goal. The original goal he set was to be sworn in by 100 agencies; as of his visit to Memphis, he had been sworn in by over 300 law enforcement agencies around the country.
DJ arrived at the swearing-in ceremony in the DARE corvette convertible. He later went on a horseback ride with the mounted patrol, and took off in the police helicopter. He even got to take a trip on a harbor patrol boat.
He closed out the swearing-in ceremony by taking the microphone from MPD Chief Davis and leading the crowd in clapping along to his spirited rendition of the gospel song Inside Out: "Inside out, inside out, you must serve my Jesus from the inside out."
What an honor to be a part of such a brave, kind, and determined young man's journey!
For Restoration Saturday, the SCDAG Office, along with representatives from the offices of the Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk, General Sessions Court Clerk, Memphis City Court Clerk, Shelby County Circuit Court Clerk, Maximus Child Support and other organizations all gather together under one roof to help resolve child support issues, restore drivers licenses, offer education opportunities, job recruitment and possibly expunge minor convictions related to Shelby County.
Usually, Restoration Saturday occurs several times a year at accessible locations around Memphis. However, due to the impact of Covid-19 restrictions, it has been some time since we last held Restoration Saturday. The good news: on Tuesday, 5 April, from 10am to 1pm, we will be holding a Job Fair and Expungement Clinic at Pursuit of God Church. We would like to especially thank Pastor Ricky Floyd for hosting.
Billy Ray Turner was convicted in the 2010 shooting death of former Memphis NBA star Lorenzen Wright in a murder conspiracy set in motion by the victim’s former wife. A Criminal Court jury deliberated less than three hours before returning their verdicts against Turner, 51, a landscape business owner and close friend of Sherra Wright, who pled guilty in the case in 2019. Lorenzen's mom, Mrs. Deborah Marion, said that while she knew this wouldn't bring her son back, at least she would be able to sleep a full night for the first time in 12 years. Read more here.
 Deputy Dist. Atty. Gen. Ray Lepone recently helped introduce some students at Levi Elementary School to the so-called sweet science of boxing, something Ray has been doing since he was 11 years old and spending summers in Philadelphia (before anyone had heard of Rocky).
He and local undefeated professional middleweight Mike Cook, and Lifeline to Success founders DeAndre and Vinessa Brown, showed some 20 selected students that there’s much more to boxing than knockouts and movie melodrama.
The students quickly learned that health and fitness are the first requirements. Jumping rope, even for a minute or two, is not as easy as it looks. The boxing team also showed the students that the sport requires discipline, focus and self-reliance.
“Boxing is not a team sport so you have to rely on yourself, not on a group,” says Ray, who trains pro boxers on weekends, as well as a few brave non-professionals from the office. He also is a licensed cornerman who assists fighters in their corner between rounds.
Vinessa and DeAndre take lessons from Mike Cook, and also are his managers. They hope to visit more schools to introduce boxing’s benefits to young people.
“It can help reduce bullying and stress, and improve physical fitness,” Vinessa says. “And the best thing is that it’s not a team sport. Each young person excels on his or her own, so they have to push themselves.”
Mike Cook, whose professional record is 20-0, posted this Facebook message for the new boxers at Levi: “Leaders don’t create followers; they create more leaders.”
This week I met with the parents of a homicide victim just before the defendant was bound over to the grand jury on charges of first-degree murder and attempted especially aggravated robbery.
I explained the legal process ahead, but what I couldn’t explain was why the man who killed their son had been out on bond on another violent felony less than a year earlier, also an attempted robbery with a firearm. That case is pending in Criminal Court.
Bond amounts should reflect the full criminal history of the defendant as well as the severity of the facts alleged in the new case. As we often see, that does not always happen. Otherwise, there would be no reason a defendant with a history like this one should have a $30,000 bond.
Just 10 percent down and he was back in the community where, in 2013, he put a gun in a victim’s face, punched him and robbed him. He went to prison for a few years and then was back to victimizing the community.
In 2012 he did three days in jail for unlawful possession of a weapon. He also was a regular in Juvenile Court for offenses such as criminal trespassing, carrying a weapon on campus and aggravated burglary.
Then in 2009, at age 16, he was charged with reckless homicide. The victim was his own cousin. He was placed in DCS custody and then home placement.
This defendant and the community would have benefited from some type of early intervention, but at this point we have to keep repeat violent offenders off the streets as long as we can. We have far too many victims already.
On Saturday, April 9th, we will meet at Metropolitan Baptist Church at 767 Walker Avenue for the 7th Unity Walk Against Gun Violence. Registration opens at 9am, and the walk begins at 10am. It's not just a walk, it's a movement!
New ADA Sworn In
Mark Bowman, Assistant District Attorney, started work this month in the Domestic Violence Unit reporting to Greg Gilbert. He has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Memphis School of Law. He previously had his own law practice and worked as an attorney for the law firms of Waggoner and Gary Green. Welcome to the team!
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In the News
Motorist Indicted in Crash That Killed Former Shelby County Medical Examiner
Motorist Sentenced in Officer’s Death
Ex-Boyfriend Admits Fatally Stabbing Woman
Couple Indicted in Identity Theft Phone Scam
Heroin Supplier Sentenced to 18 Years
Man Convicted of Raping Ex-Girlfriend’s Child
Motorist Guilty of DUI for 4th Time
Pair Plead Guilty in Murder Outside Motel
Second Shooter Pleads Guilty in Murder Case
Man Convicted in Frayser Kidnap, Rape
Ex-Boyfriend Convicted in Attack on Woman
Boyfriend Guilty in Murder of Pregnant Woman
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