A tossed-aside $2 lottery ticket allegedly sparked a brutal robbery in Midtown, leaving a Memphis man bleeding in the street early on July 13, according to police. Officers said they found the victim near Park Avenue and Ethel Street, bleeding from the back of his head and struggling to walk after being kicked while he was on the ground. The man told investigators he heard a voice he recognized as "Corry" just before he was struck from behind.
Police say the man identified as "Corry" and two other men attacked the victim, grabbed the $2 ticket and stole his cellphone, which the victim valued at about $300, before running off. The account, reported by Action News 5, notes the victim also suffered injuries to his left side and back in addition to the head wound. The case has drawn attention for how a seemingly trivial scrap of paper turned into the trigger for a violent street assault.
Arrest and charges
Memphis police later arrested 49-year-old Lacorry Collins in connection with the attack. According to police, Collins is charged with aggravated robbery, possession of a weapon as a convicted felon, possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, and theft of property. It was not immediately clear whether Collins has appeared before a judge yet or whether any bond has been set. Investigators say two other men were involved in the assault and that the case remains open.
Legal implications
Under Tennessee law, aggravated robbery (robbery that involves a deadly weapon or serious bodily injury) is a Class B felony. Aggravated robbery carries a possible prison term that can range from 8 to 30 years, depending on the sentencing range and a defendant's criminal history. Tennessee's weapons statute also makes it a separate crime to possess or use a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony and requires mandatory minimum sentences that must run consecutively. For more detail, see Tennessee Code § 39-13-402, Tennessee Code § 39-17-1324 and state sentencing summaries on FindLaw.
The arrest and details of the July 13 assault were first reported by Action News 5. Court records or a future police statement could shed more light on the case as it moves through the system.
