Public safety isn’t only about what happens after a specific crime occurs. It also means paying attention to places where serious criminal activity happens repeatedly and taking appropriate action to prevent more people from being harmed.
That’s why our office worked with the MPD on the nuisance action involving Legends Lounge.
Since March 2023, MPD has documented 58 incidents at or associated with the establishment, including six aggravated assaults involving gunfire and one homicide. That’s in addition to hundreds of calls for service and police reports in the last few years, including complaints about overcrowding and drug activity. In April, our office formally notified the responsible parties of the criminal activity associated with the property under Tennessee’s nuisance-abatement law, warning them that a nuisance action could follow. Despite that notice, additional incidents occurred.
Ever since I took office, I have emphasized nuisance actions as a useful tool to clean up crime hotspots. This week’s action is of a piece with that longstanding effort.
To be clear, this nuisance action is not part of the Memphis Safe Task Force operation conducted at Legends in August. The nuisance process began months before that operation and is the result of longstanding concerns about repeated criminal activity at the location. I understand that the community has concerns about that separate operation.
No business or institution should be allowed to become a consistent breeding ground for violence and other criminal activity. When that happens, it puts patrons at risk and affects neighboring businesses and the people who live and work in the surrounding community.
When we see a persistent pattern like this, we have a responsibility to work with our law enforcement and government partners and use the legal tools available to address it. Nuisance actions are one of those tools.
Our goal is straightforward: protect patrons, protect the surrounding community and, whenever possible, prevent violence rather than simply prosecute it after it happens.
Woman Pleads Guilty to Second-Degree Murder in Church’s Chicken Shooting: Monica Williams pleaded guilty this week to Second-Degree Murder and being a Convicted Felon in Possession of a Firearm. She received an effective 30-year sentence in connection with the July 2024 shooting death of Church’s Chicken employee Anitra West. Associate Deputy District Attorney Monica Timmerman handled the case.
The case stems from a July 8, 2024, shooting at the Church’s Chicken on Park Avenue in Orange Mound. Williams and West had an exchange over a food order in the drive-thru. Williams left the restaurant and later shot West outside the business. West died from her injuries at the hospital.
Associate Deputy DA Monica Timmerman handled the case.
Man Sentenced Following Attempted Murder Conviction: Assistant District Attorneys Brian Neely and Victoria Gillard prosecuted the case against Kevin Isabelle. Following trial, the jury found Isabelle guilty as charged. Isabelle received 45 years for Criminal Attempt First-Degree Murder, 10 years for Employment of a Firearm with Intent to Commit a Felony, and 20 years for Convicted Felon in Possession of a Firearm. The 10-year sentence runs consecutively to Count 1, while the 20-year sentence runs concurrently with the other counts.
The case stems from a shooting outside a Memphis convenience store. Isabelle got out of an SUV and fired multiple shots at De’Vonta Munn, striking him several times. Munn went to Regional One Hospital in critical condition.
ADAs Brian Neely & Victoria Gillard handled the case.
Two Men Charged in Fatal Trunk Party Shooting Headed to Grand Jury: Chief Prosecutor Carrie Bush is handling the case against Damion Thomas and Naskial Wilson, who face charges of First-Degree Murder, six counts of Attempted Murder, Reckless Endangerment, and a firearm charge in connection with the shooting that killed Dr. Shandricka Hayslett during a trunk party in North Memphis. Both men waived their preliminary hearings Thursday, and the case is headed to the grand jury.
Thomas and Wilson remain in custody. The court set no bond for Thomas and revoked Wilson’s bond.
The shooting also injured four other people.
Chief Prosecutor Carrie Bush is handling the case.
SCDAG Announces New Leadership Appointments
The Shelby County District Attorney’s Office has named Lessie Rainey as Deputy District Attorney and Monica Timmerman as Associate Deputy District Attorney. Both veteran prosecutors bring extensive experience and leadership to their new roles within the office.
Rainey, a prosecutor with the office since 2009, most recently served as Chief Prosecutor of the Domestic Violence Unit. Timmerman joined the office in 2022 and most recently served as Chief Prosecutor of Criminal Court Division VII.
Join us in congratulating Lessie and Monica on their new roles. Click here to read the full press release.
DA Mulroy Attends AFL-CIO Labor Council Annual Dinner
 DA Mulroy recently attended the AFL-CIO Labor Council’s annual dinner, joining labor leaders and community members for an evening of fellowship and conversation. Mulroy is pictured with AFL-CIO Labor Council President Kevin Bradshaw.
SCDAG Supports Memphis Child Advocacy Center
 Members of the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office recently attended the Memphis Child Advocacy Center’s 37th Annual Gala, the organization’s largest fundraiser of the year. DA Mulroy, who serves on the Memphis CAC’s board, joined many members of our office in supporting the event.
The Memphis CAC works to provide safety, healing, and justice for children who have experienced sexual or other severe abuse, offering services including forensic interviews, therapy, and family advocacy. Proceeds from the annual gala support the CAC’s work with children and families in Shelby County.
Welcome, Fall 2026 Interns
 The Shelby County District Attorney’s Office is pleased to welcome our Fall 2026 interns! We look forward to having them join our team and gain firsthand experience working in the criminal justice system.
The DA's Office named Lessie Rainey—a native Memphian who has served as a prosecutor since 2009—as the new Deputy District Attorney, replacing Hagerman, and Monica Timmerman—also a lifelong Memphian who earned both her degrees from the University of Memphis—as an Associate Deputy District Attorney, succeeding outgoing prosecutor Chris Lareau. |Long-time Shelby County prosecutor appointed as criminal court judge| via FOX13
“When a business drives more incidents than comparable businesses, it’s a concern. When there is a series of violations, it’s a priority. When the incidents are violent, we act quickly—as our prosecutors and MPD did in this case,” District Attorney Steve Mulroy said in a statement. |MPD: Legends Lounge to close, declared as public nuisance| via ABC24
A woman was sentenced after pleading guilty to fatally shooting a Church’s Chicken employee in Orange Mound in 2024, the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office announced Monday.Monica Williams, 47, pleaded guilty to a second-degree murder charge in the shooting death of Anitra West, 48. She was sentenced to 30 years in prison. |Woman gets 30 years after fatally shooting Church’s Chicken employee| via WREG3
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