An 18-year-old accused in a South Memphis shooting that left a man dead last summer is now being moved into the adult justice system, according to the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors said Thursday that the case is shifting out of juvenile proceedings and into the adult criminal division.
According to FOX13 Memphis, the DA’s office notified juvenile court officials that it will pursue adult charges against Anthony Laird Jr. Prosecutors say Laird faces first-degree murder in the perpetration of a felony tied to a shooting on Aug. 1, 2025. FOX13 reports that the victim was identified as Omarion Cowley, who officers found with gunshot wounds before he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Memphis police responded to the 400 block of Betty Bayou Avenue on the night of Aug. 1 and found a man who had been shot, local reporting shows. Action News 5 reported that officers arrested 19-year-old Cody Gray days after the shooting and charged him with first-degree murder and aggravated robbery. Gray was booked into the Shelby County Jail while investigators continued to develop the case.
Adult Co-Defendant Already Locked Up
Local outlets and the department’s social updates filled in the picture around Gray’s arrest, detailing the initial charges and the fast-moving search that followed. The MPD Fugitive Unit’s role in tracking Gray and the description of the scene were outlined in the department’s online statement, summarized in the department’s online statement. Authorities say their investigation points to an attempted aggravated robbery that ended in fatal gunfire.
Prosecutors told juvenile court officials they will now pursue Laird’s case in adult criminal court, FOX13 Memphis reports. The DA’s motion underscores how seriously prosecutors view the alleged offense, and a waiver hearing, along with related filings, will determine whether juvenile jurisdiction is fully relinquished. Court documents and upcoming hearings will set the timetable for Laird’s next appearances.
What the Transfer Means
Transferring a case into adult court typically means prosecutors will proceed under adult sentencing rules rather than juvenile procedures, which can result in far stiffer penalties if a defendant is convicted. Recent local coverage shows the Shelby County DA’s office has sought similar transfers in other homicide matters, according to Action News 5. The decision to move a case is guided by prosecutors’ assessment of the evidence and the severity of the alleged offense.
Prosecutors say the investigation remains active and that additional details are expected as the case advances through the courts. Coverage of similar transfers locally has followed other recent cases, but officials have not yet released a public schedule for Laird’s next court appearance.
