From the files, of CrimeStoppers of Memphis and Shelby County
Memphians flood CrimeStoppers with tips in rap star’s murder
November 17, 2021
Two men carrying automatic weapons jumped from a vehicle outside Makeda’s Homemade Butter Cookies, a bake shop near the Memphis International Airport, and began firing. Multiple bullets hit rapper Young Dolph, 36, and killed him.
November 18, 2021
A Memphis citizen contacts CrimeStoppers with a tip about the homicide. This will be the first of more than 700 tips on the case that would come in over the next month. The tips were passed on to homicide investigators. They would later say that multiple tips, including about a stolen vehicle used in the homicide, helped solve the case and bring indictments against suspects.
January 5, 2022
The U.S. Marshal’s Office, in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies, announces a $15,000
award for help in identifying the killers.
January 18, 2022
Cornelius Smithy and Justin Johnson are captured and charged with first degree murder. A warrant is
issued for Shundale Barnett on accessory charges.
PAID BY CRIMESTOPPERS TO THE CITIZENS WHOSE TIPS LED TO THE ARRESTS: $5,900.
Fingerprints left behind still help solve felonies
April 9, 2019
MPD officers responded to a business robbery at the Family Dollar Store at 3564 South Mendenhall. The store manager explains that two males entered the business posing as customers. Then one went behind the counter and grabbed money from the register. Both fled. Police are able to lift fingerprints, however.
May 7, 2019
A print match comes back from police computers for one C.W. Williams. The store manager positively identifies Williams from a photo. A warrant is issued for his arrest.
June 20, 2019
A tipster notifies CrimeStoppers of Williams’ location. He is found and arrested. His companion in the robbery remains unidentified and at large.
PAID TO THE CITIZEN WHOSE TIP LED TO THE ARREST: $200.
Just a name from a tipster helps solve shooting case
March 15, 2019
A shooting report brought MPD officers to the 2100 block of Frayser Boulevard where they found two males suffering from gunshot wounds. They were transported to Regional One in critical condition.
March 16, 2019
A tipster called CrimeStoppers and said that a Timothy Nelson was responsible for shooting the two men. Detectives quickly assembled enough information to get a warrant issued for aggravated assault and Nelson was soon arrested.
PAID TO THE CITIZEN WHOSE TIP LED TO THE ARREST: $500.
Tipster tells name, location of woman in beating
July 1, 2018
A woman, with the help of at least four other people, beats Thaddeus Lawrence at the intersection of Claybrook and Jefferson Avenue in the Midtown area, leaving him lying in the street. He tries to get up or crawl but is unable to get out of the street before at least two cars drive over his badly injured body.
Shortly after police and paramedics arrive, Lawrence dies, still lying on the pavement.
July 2, 2018
A citizen contacts CrimeStoppers anonymously and identifies Regrielle Blue, also known as Tosha Blue, as the woman who instigated and led the beating. The tipster also provides Blue’s whereabouts.
July 3, 2018
Police locate and arrest Regrielle Blue and charge her with aggravated assault resulting in a death. The investigation continues.
PAID TO THE CITIZEN WHOSE TIP LED TO THE ARREST: $700.
Tipster supplies name of robber & warns he’s leaving town
June 3, 2018
An armed robber holds up a Dollar General store and leaves with cash. This becomes the first of 10 similar robberies of Dollar General and Family Dollar stores in the Memphis Area over the next few weeks. Investigators open a file on a possible serial armed robbery. Video footage is gathered from several stores.
June 28, 2018
A citizen contacts CrimeStoppers anonymously and identifies the individual responsible for the robberies as Legregory Jeffreys. The tipster adds that Jeffreys is at that moment sitting at the Greyhound station waiting to catch a bus out of town.
June 28, 2018
Detectives view video tapes and then send officers to look for Jeffreys at the bus station. Officers locate and arrest him just before he is able to flee. He is charged with two counts of aggravated robbery. The case remains open for the possibility of more charges.
PAID TO THE CITIZEN WHOSE TIP LED TO THE ARREST: $900.
Caller IDs suspect in murders and tells his whereabouts
February 9, 2018
Two teenagers are walking along the 3800 block of Macon Road when they are shot by a male suspect armed with a handgun. Memphis police officers respond to the scene. Nicholas Millican, 18, is pronounced dead where he lay on the sidewalk. Andrea Reed, 17, is transported to Regional One Medical Center. She dies of her gunshot wounds the next day.
February 10, 2018
A homicide case is opened by investigators. The news media reports the deaths.
February 21, 2018
A tipster contacts CrimeStoppers and reports that the individual responsible in the double-homicide shootings is Antonio Turner, also known as “TO.” The anonymous citizen also knows where Turner can be located. The tipster is given a secret number to use for the purpose of an award if an arrest is made.
February 21, 2018 (Later that day)
An MPD squad locates and arrests suspect Antonio (TO) Turner. He confesses to the murders to detectives, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, and is entered into the justice system for adjudication/sentencing.
PAID TO THE CITIZEN WHOSE TIP LED TO THE ARREST: $1,000.