A Memphis 16-year-old accused in two separate 2024 killings has been moved out of juvenile court and into adult criminal court, according to the Shelby County District Attorney's Office. The transfer shifts the case into Criminal Court, where adult rules, procedures and penalties apply. Prosecutors say the shootings happened in the Soulsville area and on Saxon Avenue in August and September 2024 and both were fatal.
As reported by FOX13 Memphis, prosecutors have identified the teen as 16-year-old Maximus Tate and say he faces two counts of second-degree murder. According to the District Attorney's Office, the first killing took place in August 2024 near a Soulsville convenience store on Edith Street. The second shooting was reported in September 2024 on Saxon Avenue.
An affidavit cited by FOX13 Memphis alleges Tate fired multiple shots into a parked car at 695 Saxon Avenue, killing Devin Graham, and states that Tate confessed the killing happened during a robbery that went wrong. FOX13 Memphis also reports that another suspect, Karlos Carter, was arrested and charged in January 2025 in connection with Graham's death.
How juvenile transfers work in Tennessee
Under Tennessee law, juvenile courts can transfer a case to criminal court when certain conditions are met regarding age, evidence and public safety, as laid out in TCA 37-1-134 and explained by Justia. Once a transfer is ordered, the young defendant is treated as an adult for that case, and most juvenile-court protections tied to adjudication no longer apply.
Judges consider factors that include the youth's prior delinquency record, how serious and violent the alleged crime is and whether it appears realistic to rehabilitate the juvenile within the time and programs available in the juvenile system.
Potential penalties
Second-degree murder is classified as a Class A felony in Tennessee and typically carries a potential prison term of 15 to 60 years, plus possible fines, according to state statute summaries. That range applies in adult court and would be the framework used if Tate is tried and convicted as an adult in Criminal Court. Details on the statutory definition and sentencing range appear in TCA 39-13-210.
Court status and next steps
According to FOX13 Memphis, Tate is being held at 201 Poplar, and no public record of a bail amount has surfaced. With the District Attorney's transfer petition in play, the next step is for Criminal Court to determine whether it will accept jurisdiction and move ahead with adult charges.
If Criminal Court takes the case, prosecutors will proceed with formal charging in adult court and begin the usual pretrial process, which can include arraignment, discovery battles and motion hearings before any potential trial date is set.
DA's approach
The Shelby County District Attorney's Office has turned to adult-court transfers in other recent homicide cases, a pattern that shows up in previous public statements from the office. In one example, the DA announced in March 2025 that a 17-year-old accused in a separate murder case had been transferred to adult court, according to the Shelby County District Attorney's Office. Prosecutors have said such transfers are reserved for the most serious offenses and are aimed at protecting community safety.
Key dates and future hearings in Tate's case will be logged in the Criminal Court docket, which will show how the case is progressing and when the next appearance is scheduled. We will continue to track filings and local court calendars as the case moves through adult court.
