The aftermath of a deadly incident outside of Cache 42 nightclub on June 8th continues to unfold, as the Shelby County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) makes an arrest in the case. Jerod Lawson, 24, was taken into custody and charged with three counts of criminal attempted first-degree murder, as per the SCSO's announcement. The arrest stems from an event that left one teenager dead and two others injured. An 18-year-old Cornelius Otis, was the fatality, while a 16-year-old and a 19-year-old suffered non-critical injuries during the shooting at the 4200 block of Hacks Cross Road, Memphis, Action News 5 reported.
According to FOX13 Memphis, Lawson's arrest followed a coordinated effort by SCSO detectives, the Violent Crime Unit, SWAT team, and Fugitive Apprehension Team, where they executed an arrest warrant at his residence on the 6600 block of Whitten View Lane. The grieving mother of Cornelius Otis, Barbara White, decried the ease with which violence tears through the community, saying, "It’s an everyday thing for Memphis. It’s like it’s OK to go around and take people’s lives for no reason and walk away." She highlighted the disproportionate focus on minor offenses while, in her view, more serious crimes seemed to be met with less severe consequences.
Adding to the case's complexity, court records unearthed by FOX13 showed Lawson was previously charged with aggravated assault in 2021, accused of shooting at a woman in her car and was released on his recognizance in 2022. Barbara White expressed anguish over his release, stating, "You have murderers walking freely. Just taking people’s lives just because they feel like it or just like shooting something. It’s not right. It’s not right," she told FOX13 Memphis.
