The legal stakes just jumped for an 18-year-old accused in a South Memphis shooting that killed a 93-year-old woman. The Shelby County District Attorney's Office says the defendant, Derrion Taylor, has been transferred to adult criminal court as of Thursday, March 5, 2026. The move stems from a Jan. 17, 2024, shooting at a home on the 1800 block of Kendale Avenue that left 93-year-old Geraldine Harris dead and two other women critically injured. Authorities say Taylor was 17 at the time of the shooting and is now being prosecuted as an adult.
DA moves case to adult court
The Shelby County District Attorney’s Office notified juvenile court officials that it will pursue the case in adult criminal court, according to FOX13 Memphis. Prosecutors have charged Taylor with first-degree murder, two counts of attempted first-degree murder and two counts of aggravated assault, per the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office.
How investigators say the shooting unfolded
Memphis Police homicide detectives identified Taylor as a suspect after officers responded to the Jan. 17, 2024, shooting at the Kendale Avenue home, where three women were hit by gunfire. Harris, 93, was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said, according to the U.S. Marshals Service. The agency and local police say the two other victims were taken to the hospital in critical condition and that the investigation remains active.
Manhunt, arrest and bond
The Shelby County District Attorney’s Office says task force officers later tracked Taylor to a residence in the 3000 block of Colony Drive and arrested him without incident on July 24, 2025. Prosecutors told the court that Taylor posed a danger, and a juvenile magistrate ordered him detained with bond set at $1 million, per the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office.
What's next
With the transfer to adult court, Taylor will be prosecuted under the adult criminal system and face penalties available to adult defendants if convicted, according to Action News 5. Court dates have not yet been finalized, and the DA's office says the case remains under active investigation.
