A tragic incident unfolded in the usually tranquil neighborhood of Millington, as reported by Action News 5, when 69-year-old Randall Taylor was found unresponsive with a gunshot wound to the head. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office stated that life-saving measures were attempted before Taylor was rushed to Methodist North, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Daniel Opitz, 36, has been charged with first-degree murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony. Authorities managed to track down and arrest Opitz near Duncan Road and Raleigh Millington Road. In statements obtained by WREG, Opitz reportedly refused to provide a statement to detectives, cryptically insinuating that the "possible gun used won’t be found in a public area." This adds a layer of complexity in what seems to have quickly become a puzzle for investigators to piece together.
According to accounts told to deputies, moments before his arrest, Opitz had been seen consoling his step-sister—who was observed running out of the home in distress—repeatedly stating, "I love you." Shock rippled through the neighborhood as residents like Mae Russell expressed their disbelief to FOX13 Memphis, emphasizing the rarity of such violence in what she described as a normally peaceful area.
Further investigation revealed a possible motive, with Opitz’s biological brother telling detectives that Opitz killed Taylor because he allegedly molested a family member. This accusation, alongside video evidence of Opitz at the scene of the crime, was detailed in the information shared by WREG. The court is set to hold a hearing on Wednesday at 9 a.m. to discuss the gravity of the charges and to start to delicately unravel the circumstances leading to this somber affair.
