MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The 15-year-old charged with murder and other crimes in the carjacking death of a beloved Memphis pastor was on probation for a previous carjacking, records show.
Records for the juvenile suspect, who is not being named by WREG because he has not been transferred to adult court, were obtained Friday.
They show that on Nov. 22 last year, he was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon. Just a few days later on Dec. 7, he was charged with three counts of carjacking, and three counts of Possession/Employment of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony.
Mayor Jim Strickland shared more details of the November carjacking case, saying the juvenile followed a woman home from a store, pulled a gun on her and took her car.
He was 14 years old at the time, Strickland said.
The case was heard on March 25 of this year. The teen received a plea deal that included a gun safety course, community service, and a no-contact order. He was referred to Evaluation and Referral, Restitution Reserved, and Youth Services Bureau.
His probation was still active this week when he and a 16-year-old were accused in the carjacking and killing of Rev. Dr. Autura Eason-Williams. The 16-year-old was charged with theft of property.
Williams was the district superintendent of Tennessee Western Kentucky Conference United Methodist Church and former pastor of Capleville United Methodist. She was carjacked outside her Whitehaven home Tuesday.
Law enforcement said the teens were also involved in another carjacking in Cordova later the same day.
The district attorney’s office says they will file to charge the boy as an adult.
The suspect saw a Juvenile Court judge on Wednesday. A hearing was set for Aug. 1 to determine whether he will be charged as an adult.
D.A candidate Steve Mulroy said in a statement:
Keeping people safe is my number one priority and always will be. When the crime is serious and the defendant has a long prior record, this means transferring to adult court. But this defendant should never have been out on the street where he could’ve killed a beloved pastor, since he had committed prior crimes, including a prior carjacking. The fault for that lies with Amy Weirich, who for all her tough talk lets off too many serious criminals with her plea deals, including this plea deal. Meanwhile, almost all her prosecutors are White, almost all those she convicts are Black, and she treats Black and White youths differently when it comes to adult transfer. We need both toughness AND justice from our DA. We get neither from Amy Weirich, and that’s why we have the highest crime rate in America. If I’m DA, safety will be my unconditional top priority.
Steve Mulroy