A 16-year-old is facing a reckless homicide charge after a child was found shot to death Sunday at the Luxe at Raleigh apartments in Memphis, police said.
According to Memphis police, officers were called to the complex in the Raleigh area on Sunday and found a child who had been shot. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators quickly detained a juvenile at or near the apartments, and the teen was later booked on a reckless homicide charge. As LocalMemphis reports, police have not released the child’s age or any information about what led up to the shooting.
What the Charge Means
Reckless homicide is defined under Tennessee law as a Class D felony. A conviction can bring prison time and fines, with the exact punishment determined by the state’s sentencing ranges and the defendant’s prior record.
Under Tennessee Code § 39-13-215, as compiled at Justia, reckless homicide is subject to the structured felony sentencing system. Sentencing guidance for Class D felonies, summarized by FindLaw, outlines the ranges judges use when deciding penalties.
Local Context
The arrest comes amid a string of recent cases in which Memphis teenagers have been accused in deadly shootings. On May 17, for instance, Action News 5 reported that a 15-year-old was charged with reckless homicide in a separate fatal shooting, one of several incidents this month in which minors have appeared in local headlines as both victims and suspects.
Memphis police have not shared further details about the Raleigh case, and prosecutors will decide how it moves forward in court, LocalMemphis notes. Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact investigators through the Memphis Police Department’s usual public channels.
