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In Criminal Court Division 3, Chief Prosecutor Chris Lareau and ADA Shannon Toon won a guilty as charged verdict on First Degree Murder. In this case, victim Terrance Edwards was working at Wendy’s and had a brief argument with a customer, defendant Joshua Moore. Defendant Moore was instructed to wait on his food outside. When victim Edwards went outside, defendant Moore fired multiple shots at victim Edwards, killing him. This was ADA Toon’s first criminal trial, and he performed ably.
In General Sessions 12, ADA Rob Steele completed a sexual assault preliminary hearing for defendant George Boyd. In this case, defendant Boyd sexually assaulted the victim, who has special needs, while the victim was a patient at a hospital. Rob and Victim Witness Coordinator Shanika Stone worked hard to help him travel to town for the trial, and make sure he was comfortable taking the stand. The court found probable cause, allowing the case to proceed. .
Last week Thursday, The Memphis Bar Foundation inducted Chief Prosecutor Chris Lareau, Director of Community Affairs ADA Tracye Jones (both pictured left), and ADA Katie Ratton into its class of 2023 Fellows. Fellows are chosen based on their devoted and distinguished service to the legal profession and the administration of justice and their adherence to the highest standards of professional ethics and personal conduct.
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 On Thursday, April 27th, DA Mulroy kicked off his community town hall series in Frayser. Thank you to all who came out - residents, elected officials and community members. A special thanks to Pastor Ellis of Impact Baptist Church and his team for allowing us to use their space for the event. This event is part of an ongoing series of town halls DA Mulroy is planning to host in different communities throughout the county, to discuss public safety, and share updates on the SCDAG's reform initiatives. Be on the lookout for an event near you!
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 Congratulations to our 2023 Do the Write Thing Student National Ambassadors, and the school principals and teachers who helped them achieve this honor. For the past 18 years, our office has partnered with the National Campaign to Stop Violence for the Do the Write Thing Challenge. Shelby County middle school students are invited to write essays about how violence has impacted their lives and what they think should be done to prevent violence within their communities. The two Student National Ambassadors will go to Washington, D.C. and participate in Recognition Week, and their essays will be placed in the Library of Congress. Thank you to SCDAG Community Affairs Director Tracye Jones for your hard work in organizing this partnership, and also to our sponsors and community partners: Delta Dental of Tennessee, Charles F. Williams Lodge #86, CodeCrew, and the Shelby County Mayor's Office of Education and Youth Services.
Pictured above, from left to right: Germantown Middle School Principal Lisa Burton, Student National Ambassador Treasure Burchett, and English teacher Pamela Joyner-Robinson; and below, from left to right: Memphis Business Academy English teacher Brian Patrick Cook, SCDAG Community Affairs Director ADA Tracye Jones, Student National Ambassador Angel Daniel, and Principal Tamatha Smith.
Chris Santirojprapai, Assistant District Attorney (pictured left at his swearing-in, with Judge Craft and DA Mulroy) started work this week with the Crime Strategies and Narcotics Prosecution Unit. ADA Santirojprapai received his J.D from The University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, and worked as Assistant Public Defender in Shelby County for 9 years.
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Matthew Blissitt, ADA, started work this week with Vertical Team 1. ADA Blissitt has a Bachelor’s degree and a J.D. from the University of Arkansas. Previously, he was an Associate Attorney with The Claiborne Ferguson Law Firm. Tom Warrick, Criminal Investigator, joined the CID team this week. Investigator Warrick has a B.S. degree from the University of Memphis, and was formerly with MPD as a Lieutenant in the Special Operations TACT/Bomb Unit. ADA Blissitt (center left) and Investigator Warrick (center right) are pictured right at their swearing-in with Judge Coffee and DA Mulroy.
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From WMCTV5: DA will not charge former MPD officer Preston Hemphill in Tyre Nichols’ death
“Throughout that entire time, we consulted with the family of Tyre Nichols and their attorneys and kept them informed. I’ve been informing them every step of the way. In fact, I spoke to the family and Ben Crump, their attorney, as recently as last night about this development. They’re in support of our decisions,” said Mulroy.
From Commercial Appeal: Mulroy: Ex-MPD officer Preston Hemphill won't face charges in Tyre Nichols case
"By no means do we endorse the conduct of Officer Hemphill," Mulroy said. "Note that the Memphis Police Department did, in fact, take administrative action against Mr. Hemphill...But we do not believe that criminal charges are appropriate. Mr. Hemphill was not present for the initial traffic stop, nor was he present when the other officers removed Mr. Nichols forcibly from his car and put him on the ground...He had to make his decisions based on what he knew, or what he thought was happening, and was following the lead of other officers."
Mulroy also read a statement of support from civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who wrote on behalf of RowVaughn and Rodney Wells, Nichols' parents.
From Daily Memphian: DA Mulroy launches town hall program in Frayser
“This is part...of an overall outreach program,” Mulroy said. “I think it’s important for the DA to be out in the community as much as possible and get input from the community — the community feel like they’re being listened to, lines of communication.”
Bling ring: DA’s office, MPD to target retail thefts
“We’ve heard from a number of retail owners and business people that there has been a rash of these kinds of organized retail theft, smash-and-grab operations,” said Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy. “And it’s caused real concern. We don’t want businesses leaving the city because they don’t feel that their property is safe.”
 Stay safe and thanks for reading,
Steve Mulroy
District Attorney
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