The escalating path towards a courtroom confrontation took a concrete step as a Shelby County grand jury is slated to review the case against Larry Pickens, the man accused of fatally shooting Dr. Benjamin Mauck, a Collierville orthopedic surgeon, in July 2023. The decision was revealed on Tuesday, according to information from Action News 5. Pickens faces charges of first-degree murder and aggravated assault for the death which occurred inside an exam room at the Campbell Clinic in Collierville.
Pickens, whose bond remains set at a notably high $1.2 million, has been incarcerated at the Collierville Jail since the tragic incident. Prior to the shooting, Germantown Police had engaged with Pickens regarding unsettling behavior at a different Campbell Clinic location, which ultimately led them to bar his return, as reported by Local Memphis. This was merely days before the shooting in Collierville.
At the center of this tragedy was Dr. Mauck, a respected surgeon who had been recognized as a "Top Doctor" in Memphis magazine's June 2023 issue. His contributions to his field and community were cut short when, according to law enforcement affidavits, Pickens discharged three shots at Dr. Mauck, ending his life, as described by WREG. This occurred in an exam room where the doctor was reportedly treating Pickens, with the motive for the shooting still unexplained to the public.
Further complicating this case is Pickens' past, which surfaces to reveal a history of mental health issues. He had previously informed the Memphis Police of his schizophrenia diagnosis and disclosed having been off his medication. Now, with the case advancing to a grand jury, the courts will proceed to more closely examine the details surrounding Dr. Mauck's tragic murder.
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