The victim was identified as St. Jude employee Alexander Bulakhov, 32, and comes amid increased concern about Downtown crime, including a recently released Downtown Safety Plan.

An assistant district attorney who pleaded guilty to driving under the influence has had her law license reinstated. 

The Shelby County Public Defender’s Office is struggling to handle first-degree murder cases, according to an email sent out to Shelby County General Sessions Criminal Court judges in July and a recent filing in a first-degree murder case.

One of the defendants in the civil wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of an inmate who died last year at the Shelby County Jail has filed to dismiss himself from the suit.

That information was revealed in documents officially referring Shelby County Criminal Court Division 9 Judge Melissa Boyd to the Tennessee General Assembly for “further action,” including potential removal.

Shelby County Sheriff Bonner said he hopes the center will allow the expansion of educational opportunities provided to the juvenile facility by Hope Academy.

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Bonner beefs up security in jail, courts after fatal stabbing

The enhanced security comes after an Oct. 26 stabbing that led to the death of Deion Byrd while he was in a holding area behind a criminal courtroom. 

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New Youth Justice and Education Center to provide a ‘different path’

Two police reform experts talked Tuesday, Nov. 7, during a forum hosted by a local nonprofit about the Department of Justice’s pattern-or-practice investigation of MPD and their own work in implementing reforms. 

Michael Stengel argued that prosecutors in the federal criminal case against the officers should not be allowed to call upon experts as witnesses to speak about the alleged use of excessive force against Nichols.

Former NAACP Memphis President Van Turner stressed the nonviolent nature of Courtney Anderson’s charges as the reason why he should be released. “A 163-year sentence for a nonviolent crime is excessive,” Turner said. 

The state trial is set to take place after the federal case the former Memphis Police Department officers are also facing.

Related story:

Attorney for former officer accused of killing Tyre Nichols moves to block expert testimony

Shelby County Juvenile Court is auditing its Detention Assessment Tool, which it uses to determine if youth accused of crimes will be kept in custody or sent home.

Bill Gibbons, president of the crime commission, said Memphis is not the only city seeing its crime rate rise, especially in the car theft category, “but that is little comfort.”

Deion Byrd was stabbed Oct. 26 in a holding cell awaiting a court appearance at the Walter L. Bailey Jr. Criminal Justice Center, more commonly known as 201 Poplar.

Details from the plea agreement reached in the federal criminal case against Desmond Mills Jr. shed more light on his role in Tyre Nichols’ death.

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Plea deals reached for officer charged in Tyre Nichols’ death

Judge OKs release of additional materials in Tyre Nichols case

Files newly eligible for public release include 24 hours of video, audio, reports and personnel files of up to 17 City of Memphis employees related to the indictment and investigation. 

Deion Byrd’s family is the fifth in the Memphis-Shelby County area who have lost loved ones during interactions with law enforcement to hire Ben Crump for representation.

“As soon as we uncovered evidence that he had these images, then obviously we secured a warrant and affected an arrest on him and terminated him that day,” said Chief Deputy Justin Smith.

After the first judge’s recusal from the case, Hernandez Govan appeared in Shelby County Criminal Court Division 10 Judge Jennifer Mitchell’s courtroom for the first time Thursday, Nov. 2.

“I’m hoping that for Mr. Mills it was his conscience that allowed him to make this plea agreement and not because of his lawyers telling him it was the right thing to do,” RowVaughn Wells said.

“It’s always been a nuisance,” Nita McComb said of the EZ Express convenience store near her Frayser home. “It’s just an eyesore because of people loitering. A lot of people loitering.”

William Skelton, 38, made the plea Wednesday, Nov. 1, in Shelby County Criminal Court Division 3 Judge James Jones Jr.‘s courtroom. 

Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy announced the policy Tuesday, Oct. 31, during a press conference in the 10th-floor conference room of the DA’s office in the Shelby County Criminal Justice Center, 201 Poplar Ave.

Desmond Mills, who is represented by attorney Blake Ballin, plans to enter a change of plea during a hearing.

Alfonzo Turner, owner of Tha Table, was shot Sunday, Oct. 29, outside of his restaurant, 3250 Elvis Presley Blvd., and later died in the hospital. Another man was found dead from a gunshot wound in his car at the same scene.