In a courtroom proceeding that occurred Thursday morning, two individuals, Lorenzo Watson and Kendrick Ray, found themselves standing before a judge, charged with grave offenses for their alleged roles in the shooting of a father and his four children on Interstate 240. According to Action News 5, Watson and Ray each have been slapped with bonds amounting to $1 million.

While Ray has secured legal representation, Watson appeared in court without an attorney or the presence of family, per details from WREG. Ray’s attorney, Brandon Hall, emphasized the complexity of the case, acknowledging that his client's not-guilty plea comes amidst allegations that other suspects might still be at large, a puzzle, that the court will need to piece together to ascertain responsibility for the harrowing event.

"There is an allegation that several people are at large and Mr.Ray happens to be arrested right now. But eventually, the case will have to weed out who is actually responsible for this shooting," Brandon Hall told Action News 5. He further elaborated on the process that lies ahead: "If you are just a passenger, it doesn’t mean you are guilty of committing a crime," indicating that the evidence will unfold over the coming days.

In a post-incident update, while the father has been released from the hospital, two children remain in a critical state with the other two are labeled as non-critical according to FOX13 Memphis. Despite the gravity of the situation, Ray’s attorney requested the court waive a bail review that was slated for Friday morning, an act, which signifies confident maneuvering amid a pressured legal defense.

The I-240 shooting case has gathered significant attention due to the young ages of the suspects and the sheer violence inflicted upon an innocuous family traveling along the interstate. Local authorities, as well as the community at large, are awaiting further developments as the investigation proceeds and the judicial process continues its course.