Family files $35 million wrongful death suit against Youth Villages
Matthew De'Marcus Williams, 22, was shot and killed while attending a community violence intervention program on April 9, 2025. His family has filed a wrongful death suit against Youth Villages claiming negligence and reckless management of the Memphis Allies program, known as SWITCH. (Courtesy The Cochran Firm Mid-South)
Matthew De’Marcus Williams, 22, was shot and killed while attending a violence intervention program meeting in 2025. His family has filed a wrongful death suit against Youth Villages.
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Youth Villages Memphis Allies Matthew De’Marcus WilliamsLaura Testino
Laura Testino is an enterprise reporter on The Daily Memphian’s metro team who writes most often about how education policies shape the lives of children and families. She regularly contributes to coverage of breaking news events and actions of the Tennessee General Assembly. Testino’s journalism career in Memphis began six years ago at The Commercial Appeal, where she began chronicling learning disruptions associated with the pandemic, and continued with Chalkbeat, where she dug into education administration in Memphis. Her reporting has appeared in The New York Times, The Times-Picayune, The Tuscaloosa News and USA Today. Reach Laura with questions, story ideas or tips: Ltestino@dailymemphian.com or Ldtestino.54 on Signal.
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