If you’re the victim of an Aggravated Assault, you don’t particularly care whether the people who arrested your attacker were regular police, deputy sheriffs, state troopers, or federal agents. You don’t care whether they were part of a federal task force or an independent action by a law enforcement agency. You want accountability for the defendant.
If you get a traffic ticket, you don’t care whether the ticket came from a task force, or local police. You want to quickly get it resolved, either by paying the fine or contesting it.
We agree. We treat all cases the same, regardless of whether they come from the federal task force or elsewhere.
Which is why it’s so perplexing that the state is passing multiple laws suggesting we treat them different.
One bill makes us report to the Legislature on the most significant federal task force cases where we settled the case—which is pretty much all task force cases, since all prosecution offices, state or federal, Tennessee and elsewhere, settle over 90% of their cases rather than go to trial. This is not something we can automate—because the cases are all treated the same in the computer systems of our office and the Clerk’s office. Instead, it will be a burdensome, manual process taking staff away from real law enforcement work.
The other bill would have the unelected State Attorney General do an audit of every prosecution decision our office makes regarding all federal task force cases, and report that to the Legislature.
Both bills apply only to Shelby County, despite state constitutional rules against such targeting. Neither will actually make Shelby County safer. And there’s really no valid reason for singling our county out.
One legislator said it’s necessary because our office “refuses to prosecute” cases. Tell that to the over 40,000 defendants we prosecute every year. Or the over 2000 felony defendants we convicted just since January (receiving over 4000 years of prison sentences). Another complained that we dismiss too many cases—though data shows we’re on track for a large urban DA office, and dismiss fewer cases than the previous (Republican) DA. Still another complained that not enough violent defendants get jail time, but his data was just flat-out wrong. And on it goes.
The proof’s in the pudding. After a decade of rising violent crime under my Republican predecessor (during which the legislature passed no special reporting or audit bills), within a year of my taking office, crime started to go down, and has continued to go down for the past two and a half years.
And we’ll continue to do everything we can to keep that streak going for as long as possible. Regardless of what political decisions get made, regardless of what extra paperwork the state assigns us, and hoops we have to jump through, we’ll do our best to do justice, be fair, and to make Shelby County safe.
Defendant Pleads Guilty to Second-Degree Murder, Accepts 40-Year Sentence in Shelby Farms Park Killing: Chief Prosecutor Monica Timmerman successfully handled the plea agreement for Jackson Hopper, who pled guilty to Second-Degree Murder in the shooting death of 22-year-old Ellie Young. With this guilty plea, Hopper is accepting a deal for a 40-year prison sentence.
During Wednesday’s court appearance, Hopper took the stand and confirmed his plea. The court sentenced Hopper in Shelby County, and he remains subject to additional charges in Tipton, Lauderdale, and Dyer counties related to a multi-county high-speed chase.
The case stems from a 2024 shooting at Shelby Farms Park in which prosecutors say Hopper shot and killed his ex-girlfriend, Ellie Young, before fleeing and leading authorities on a multi-county pursuit.
Chief Prosecutor Monica Timmerman handled the case.
Defendant Found Guilty on All Counts in Double Homicide Case: Chief Prosecutor Carrie Bush and Assistant District Attorney JD Hamblen successfully prosecuted Joshua Gossett, who a jury found guilty as charged on all counts, including two counts of First-Degree Murder and related firearm charges.
Bush and Hamblen presented extensive proof during trial, including testimony from 15 witnesses, 57 exhibits, numerous surveillance videos, and approximately six hours of the defendant’s own statement. Their work led the jury to return guilty verdicts on all charges.
Gossett is scheduled for a sentencing hearing on May 7, 2026.
The case stems from a series of events on October 30, 2022. Prosecutors showed that Gossett used his Lyft app to travel to the home of Shunish Baggett, where he shot and killed her. He then used the Lyft app again to request a ride from that location. Richard Skelskey, an 80-year-old driver, responded to the request. After Skelskey picked him up, Gossett shot him in the head and drove away in his vehicle. Prosecutors relied on Gossett’s digital footprint, his statement to police, and forensic analysis of his digital data to establish his identity and actions, leading to his successful prosecution.
Chief Prosecutor Carrie Bush & ADA JD Hamblen handled the case.
Defendant Convicted of Second-Degree Murder in Whitehaven Community Activist’s Death: Assistant District Attorneys Sam Winnig and Cody Tolbert successfully prosecuted Tifanee Wright, who a jury found guilty as charged Friday of Second-Degree Murder in the shooting death of Dr. Yvonne Nelson. Following the verdict, the court revoked Wright’s bond and ordered her into custody pending sentencing. Wright faces sentencing on June 15, 2026, and she faces 15 to 25 years without probation or parole eligibility.
Winnig and Tolbert presented the State’s proof during a weeklong trial in Criminal Court 3 before Judge James Jones, including surveillance video played for the jury that documented the shooting. After deliberation, the jury returned the guilty verdict Friday morning.
The case stems from an August 13, 2022 shooting on Yale Road in Memphis, where prosecutors proved that Wright shot and killed Dr. Nelson during an altercation in a parking lot. Prosecutors showed that Wright evaded law enforcement for 10 days before officers located her and brought her in for questioning, where she gave a statement claiming self-defense. Evidence at trial included digital tracking data and surveillance footage connecting Wright to the victim and the crime scene. Dr. Nelson, a Whitehaven community activist recognized for her service, died from her injuries after the shooting.
ADAs Sam Winnig & Cody Tolbert handled the case.
Students Recognized at “Do the Write Thing” Challenge Awards Banquet
 (Pictured L-R): Shelby County Deputy Administrator for Education & Youth Services Reginald Milton; DTWT first runner-up Karson Sandifer, DTWT National Ambassador Rosa Hernandez, and ADA Ernest Brooks.
Assistant District Attorney Ernest Brooks and Victim/Witness Coordinator Dr. Natasha Burnett attended the Memphis/Shelby County “Do the Write Thing” Challenge Recognition and Awards Banquet on April 9, 2026. The program encourages students to examine the impact of violence through writing while promoting positive decision-making.
This year, 400 students from 15 MSCS schools participated. During the event, students, educators, and school leaders were recognized for their involvement. Rosa Hernandez, an eighth grader from Memphis Business Academy, was named National Ambassador, with Karson Sandifer, a seventh grader from Mt. Pisgah Middle School, selected as first runner-up. Rosa Hernandez will travel to Washington, D.C., along with a parent and teacher, for National Recognition Week in July.
DA Mulroy Moderates Indian American Heritage Foundation Mayoral Panel
 (Pictured L-R): DA Steve Mulroy and Shelby County Mayoral Candidates Harold Collins, Mickell Lowery, and JB Smiley.
DA Mulroy recently served as a moderator for the Indian American Heritage Foundation’s Shelby County mayoral panel, helping facilitate discussions on key issues impacting the community.
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month
 April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness and reaffirm our commitment to protecting children in our community. The Shelby County District Attorney’s Office works closely with Special Victims Unit prosecutors, Victim/Witness Coordinators, and community partners such as the Memphis Child Advocacy Center to support child victims, hold offenders accountable, and ensure a coordinated, child-focused response.
Through these collaborative efforts, we aim to provide resources, advocacy, and support to help children and families navigate some of their most difficult moments.
“While no amount of time in prison will ever be enough to achieve justice for Ellie Young, we are pleased for the Young family that they can put this criminal matter behind them and celebrate the amazing life of Ellie without having to relive the trauma of her murder," -Chief Prosecutor Monica Timmerman |Jackson Hopper accepts plea deal, receives 40-year sentence in Shelby Farms murder| via ABC 24
“The bill targets Shelby County only for unprecedented, intrusive oversight of a locally elected DA by an unelected attorney general, without providing any basis for treating Shelby County differently. It singles out federal task force cases for special treatment, even though Tennessee law provides no basis for treating those cases any differently than the many cases brought independently by local law enforcement. The provision allowing the attorney general to seek a temporary replacement of a DA largely repeats language already in Tennessee law and is therefore unnecessary; to the extent it goes further, it is likely unconstitutional.
Other than that, it’s great.” -DA Mulroy |Tennessee bill specifically targets Shelby County District Attorney| via Fox 13
Farmer’s bill attracted strong opposition...and even concern from a fellow Republican on the Judiciary Committee. Rep. Chris Todd (R-Madison County) told Farmer last week that he was uncomfortable with the idea of making local DAs give a report to the attorney general. |Republican Bill Targeting DAs in Nashville and Memphis Set for House Vote| via The Nashville Banner
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