Category: Crime of the Week

June 21, 2019

TRAFFIC FATALITY

Memphis Police Department officers responded to a hit-and-run traffic accident at 2:32 a.m. September 22, 2018 at the intersection of Summer Avenue and Holmes Road, just north of Galloway Country Club golf course. Police arrived to find that Gary Howell was struck by a maroon-over-charcoal colored Jeep Cherokee. After he was transported to Regional One Medical Center, Howell died of his injuries.

Investigators need helping locating the driver or owner of the vehicle. The Jeep had been traveling westbound on Summer and likely has damage to the middle or passenger side of the hood. Contact CrimeStoppers with any information that might help in this case. The tips line is 528-CASH (2274).

June 14, 2019

HOMICIDE

Memphis Police officers stationed at the Tillman precinct answered a shooting call at 10:37 p.m. Friday, June 7, 2019. They arrived in the parking lot of Greater Lewis Street Missionary Baptist Church, 152 E. Parkway North to find a male victim on the ground behind his vehicle.

Glenn Cofield had been shot and was pronounced dead on the scene by arriving Memphis Fire Dept. personnel. Officers learned that Cofield and his wife had just returned to their vehicle after attending a fundraiser nearby. Mrs. Cofield wife got into the driver’s seat of the vehicle, then heard an argument by the passenger side door. She then heard a shot and saw someone in a hoodie standing next to the vehicle. She next saw a vehicle quickly leaving the parking lot and driving eastbound on Poplar Avenue.

Authorities are asking that anyone with any information on this homicide contact CrimeStoppers. Call the tips line, 528-CASH (2274), or text or email securely and anonymously. For details on contacting CrimeStoppers: crimestopmem.org/tips.

June 7, 2019

HOMICIDE

Memphis Police officers from the Airways Station answered an accident call at I-240 (westbound) at Airways at 11:06 p.m. Saturday, June 1, 2019. When they arrived officers found a 2011 Harley Davidson motorcycle with Georgia plates, lying in the grass near the road. Officers then located Carey Driver nearby. He was unresponsive and appeared to have injuries to his legs. Memphis Fire Department paramedics arrived and found the victim had a gunshot wound. Driver was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Officers learned at the scene that the victim had been seen exchanging words with the occupants of a dark-colored vehicle while driving on the interstate highway. A gunshot was fired and the victim lost control of his cycle, crashing down an embankment. Anyone with information on this homicide is asked to contact CrimeStoppers immediately, 528-CASH (2274).

May 30, 2019

HOMICIDE

It was 3:37 a.m. on October 28, 2018 when a gold or tan Chevy Tahoe struck and fatally injured a pedestrian at Vollintine and North Willett Street, near Rhodes College. The vehicle left the scene of the accident and continued northbound on Watkins. Anyone with information on this crime, or who recognizes the vehicle is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 528-CASH (2274).

May 24, 2019

HOMICIDE

Memphis Police responded to a shooting report near I-240 and Forest Hill Cemetery at 10:39 p.m. Saturday, May 18, 2019. Officers arrived at a house in the 1800 block of Norfolk Street to find a female victim of apparent gunshot wounds. Dorothy Jackson was transported to Regional One where she later died of her injuries.

The officers learned that Jackson and three other family members were inside the residence when shot were heard outside. Bullets rained through the walls and struck her. An adjacent house also was struck. Spent shell casings from several different caliber weapons were found outside the homes.

Anyone with information that might help solve this homicide is asked to contact CrimeStoppers, 528-CASH (2274).

May 17, 2019

HOMICIDE

It was 9:39 p.m. Monday, April 29, 2019 when Memphis Police officers from the North Main station were dispatched to check a report of a shooting in the 700 block of North Dunlap Street east of Danny Thomas just north of downtown. Officers arrived and found Rayner Smart, 39, inside a residence and suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Memphis Fire Department personnel arrived and pronounced Rayner dead on the scene.

No other information was available about this homicide. Anyone who may have information that can help solve this crime is asked to contact CrimeStoppers at 528-CASH (2274). All tips remain anonymous.

May 10, 2019

HOMICIDE

Police officers from the North Main station responded at 9:39 p.m. Monday, April 29, 2019 to a shooting report in the 700 block of North Dunlap Street in the Uptown neighborhood. Officers arrived to find a man suffering from a gunshot wound. Memphis Fire Department paramedics attempted to render aid but pronounced Rayner Smart dead on the scene.

A witness described hearing gunshots and seeing a vehicle speed away from the scene, screeching its tires. Anyone with information that might help investigators solve this homicide is asked to contact CrimeStoppers at 528-CASH (2274).

May 3, 2019

HOMICIDE

Memphis Police officers from the Raines Road Station responded to a report of a shooting at the Sterling Townhomes in the 4100 block of Rainbranch Drive, near East Raines Road and Interstate-55, at 8:41 p.m. Saturday, April 27, 2019. On arrival, the officers found a male suffering from a gunshot wound. Darius Griffin was pronounced dead on the scene by Memphis Fire Dept. personnel.

Detectives need help solving this murder. Anyone with information is asked to contact CrimeStoppers, 528-CASH (2274).

April 26, 2019

HOMICIDE

A report of a shooting in the 1000 block of Greenwood Street, near Elmwood Cemetery, was received by Memphis Police at 7:49 a.m. Saturday, April 20, 2019. Officers from the Crump station responded. At the scene they found a male victim lying in the yard of a residence. Marico Pride was suffering from gunshot wounds. Pride was pronounced dead on the scene by responding personnel from the Memphis Fire Department. Officers determined that a black Pontiac occupied by three male blacks had been seen leaving the area at the time of the shooting. It is not know if the vehicle and its occupants were involved. It’s possible the shooting may have been tied to an earlier shooting in the neighborhood.

Anyone with information that could help police solved this murder is asked to contact CrimeStoppers. The anonymous tip line is 528-CASH (2274). Tips also can be received securely by text or online email. For more information visit crimestopmem.org/tips.

April 19, 2019

HOMICIDE

Memphis Police officers stationed at Airways precinct responded to a report of a shooting at 10 p.m. Tuesday, April 9, 2019 in the 1500 block of Cella Street, near Deadrick Avenue in the Orange Mound neighborhood. When they arrived officers located a white Jeep Cherokee and inside they found gunshot victim Justin Borta. He was pronounced dead on the scene by Memphis Fire Dept. personnel.

Anyone with information about this killing is asked to contact CrimeStoppers, 528-CASH (2274).