A man was found shot to death on a South Memphis sidewalk in the early morning hours of March 31, and now police say they have charged a suspect in the killing. Officers have accused 29-year-old Okorie Deshun Thomas of second-degree murder and tampering with evidence in the death of Eugene McNeal, who was discovered outside a house near the intersection of St. Paul and Boyd shortly after 1:30 a.m. Thomas was taken into custody days later and is being held while the case moves through the county system.
Investigators say video connects a Nissan to the gunfire
According to investigators, surveillance and cellphone video from the area show a dark Nissan Altima pull up in front of the house, several males step out and walk up to McNeal on the sidewalk, and then gunshots ring out. Police told reporters the Altima was registered to Thomas' grandfather, and officers say they found Thomas getting into that same car when they moved in to make the arrest, as reported by WREG.
Booking records confirm April 7 arrest
Public booking logs list Okorie Deshun Thomas as having been booked on April 7 and show him in Shelby County custody. The April 7 booking appears in local online jail logs, according to RecentlyBooked, and the Shelby County Sheriff's Office maintains official custody and jail information on its website.
Charges, prior conviction, and what police say happened
Thomas faces second-degree murder and tampering with evidence charges in McNeal's death; authorities say McNeal suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators allege Thomas told them he handed a gun to someone he knew as "Lil Blood" after the shooting and that several males ran from the area. Reporting also notes Thomas has a 2025 conviction for aggravated assault, acting in concert, according to WREG.
What happens next in court
The case is expected to proceed through Shelby County criminal court, although an arraignment or preliminary hearing date was not listed in the first round of public reports. Investigators have asked anyone with video or information about the shooting to contact Memphis police or CrimeStoppers so detectives can continue to track down leads.
Legal note
Legal note: The charges described are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. If there is a conviction, the case will be prosecuted by the Shelby County District Attorney's Office.
