The Shelby County Sheriff's Office has apprehended eight men following a meticulous investigation into a vehicle theft syndicate that has also been linked to a homicide. According to WREG, the arrests occurred after a coordinated search warrant was executed by various departments, including the Sheriff's Office Personal Crimes unit, BRATs, K-9 Patrol, and SWAT, about the October 21 shooting in Southeast Shelby County.
Executed on December 16, the search led to the discovery of a trove of evidence which included four stolen vehicles—a Maserati SUV, two Nissan Maximas, and a Jeep Grand Cherokee—alongside 11 firearms and 2.35 pounds of marijuana, the majority of the suspects face multiple counts of theft and weapons charges. However, one, Donte Eddings, 19, stands accused of first-degree murder in the death of 48-year-old Fernando Jones, who was reportedly shot multiple times for confronting potential car thieves on his property, as detailed in a report by Local Memphis.
Further investigation into the criminal ring has revealed connections to numerous other incidents, including car burglaries. The inhibitors of the local society are now facing consequences befitting their actions, with the SCSO explicitly charging seven other individuals—Roderick Danner, Desmond Emery, Eric McNeal, Zavion Owens, Gabriel Smith, Jonathan Rush, and Curtiss Johnson—with an array of charges from theft to unlawful possession of firearms, as FOX13 reported.
"We got to do better as a community. When we see something, say something," SCSO Chief Deputy Anthony Buckner expressed in a statement obtained by FOX13, highlighting the community's role in combating crime. The SCSO encourages anyone with information about the case to contact CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH.
