The legal wheels are in motion following a preliminary hearing related to last month's shooting on Interstate 240 that concluded with a Shelby County Criminal Court judge moving the case against two men to a grand jury. The suspects, Kendrick Ray and Lorenzo Watson face serious charges including six counts of attempted first-degree murder and employing a firearm in the commission of a dangerous felony, among other accusations, as reported by Action News 5.
According to the affidavit, the altercation began when the father of the family, Antonio Meeks, was attempting to merge onto the interstate and was blocked by a gray SUV, later discovered to be stolen. After Meeks gave a hand gesture suggesting confusion, the suspects’ vehicle allegedly maneuvered to the other side of his car, and shots were fired near the Poplar Avenue exit. The shooting resulted in severe injuries for Meeks and his four children, ages 8 to 3. During a hearing, Meeks, who is recovering with the assistance of a walker, recalled the harrowing ordeal, "All of a sudden, bullets just started flying through my car," he told the judge, as conveyed in an interview with FOX13 Memphis.
Following the shooting, a pursuit ensued leading to the suspect’s vehicle, a Mitsubishi Outlander, crashing and both suspects attempting to flee on foot before being apprehended. Police testimony included various witnesses' descriptions of the suspects discarding items from the vehicle throughout the chase, although noted inconsistencies regarding continuous observation and the vehicle's color between witness accounts. This led Ray’s attorney, Brandon Hall, to critique the evidence, suggesting the state's proof of probable cause was tenuous, a sentiment supported by an article in Local Memphis.
Despite the defense's stance, Judge Louis Montesi Jr. decided there was ample probable cause to proceed with the charges. Ray, with a previous record that includes carjacking and weapons charges, had been out on a $500 bond for a separate case at the time of the incident. This element of the case and Ray's prior arrests were detailed in a statement by The Shelby County District Attorney’s office. Now, all four children are home and recuperating, and Meeks expresses resolve, "Just keep going. Every day, one day at a time, I don’t really try planning for nothing anymore," he told FOX13 Memphis.
The grand jury will determine whether sufficient evidence exists to formally indict Ray and Watson. If indicted, the accused will face a trial and potentially long sentences in prison if convicted of the crimes for which they have been charged.
