FedExForum shooting suspect arrested
The shooting happened during a Lil Baby concert Sept. 7 and resulted in critical injuries to one man.
Ben Wheeler
Ben Wheeler is an investigative reporter and is a member of The Daily Memphian’s public safety reporting team. He previously worked at the Yankton Daily Press and Dakotan and Herald-Citizen.
There are 110 articles by Ben Wheeler :
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September 2023
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Criminal Justice -
Metro Timeline of the Gershun Freeman case
Here’s a look at major events surrounding the death of Gershun Freeman, from Oct. 25, 2022, to the present.
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Criminal Justice Two indicted in Freeman death were targets of prior civil rights lawsuit
The alleged victim, Elvis Hester, filed a grievance against Jones after Jones reportedly made threats of a sexual nature and refused to feed Hester.
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Update
Criminal JusticeNine indicted in jail death of Gershun Freeman
Gershun Freeman was involved in a fatal encounter with corrections officers in the Shelby County Jail at 201 Poplar Ave. on Oct. 5, 2022.
Related story:
Bonner claims Freeman video release was illegal and politically motivated
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Shelby CountyCounty looks to re-sign with Wellpath as jail health care provider
After 41 deaths at 201 Poplar, since the start of 2019, Shelby County government is in the process of renewing its contract with Wellpath, the largest health care provider for jails and prisons in the country.
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Sports Tuohy family files response to Michael Oher claims
Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy deny, in new court filing, that they tried to exploit Michael Oher for personal gain. The movie “The Blind Side” was based on his story.
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Criminal Justice Decertification hearing for lieutenant in Tyre Nichols case delayed
Decertification process for fellow officer Preston Hemphill was also placed on hold.
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Criminal Justice ‘A place where justice is done:’ DOJ announces federal indictment of former MPD officers
“Effective policing requires public trust,” said Kristen Clarke, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
Related story:
Five former officers in Tyre Nichols case federally indicted
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Criminal Justice Police footage released in the death of Jaylin McKenzie
Jaylin McKenzie, a 20-year-old Atlanta native, was killed in December 2022 when visiting Memphis.
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Criminal Justice Five former officers in Tyre Nichols case federally indicted
According to the indictment, the defendants conspired to intentionally “withhold and omit material information and knowingly make false and misleading statements” to cover up the use of force taken out on Nichols.
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City of Memphis Layoffs hit education department at Memphis Zoo
Workers say about 25 employees were affected, although a statement from the zoo did not specify the number.
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August 2023
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Criminal Justice ‘I’ve got a video, too:’ DOJ hosts community meeting on MPD investigation
Multiple attendees told Department of Justice employees that the Memphis Police Department has a culture problem, one that has persisted for years.
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Criminal Justice Inmate dies at 201 Poplar, the fourth death there this year
A 70-year-old jail inmate died Aug. 22 while in custody at the jail. His body was sent out for an autopsy, TBI said.
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Criminal Justice Hudspeth, Ross families call for answers
“To wear my son’s cremated ashes around my neck this morning, I want justice for my son. My son was murdered. He wasn’t killed,” said Charlotte Haggett, Jarveon Hudspeth’s mother.
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Criminal Justice DA releases videos of Jarveon Hudspeth’s fatal encounter with sheriff’s deputy
Portions of video footage from Jarveon Hudspeth’s fatal encounter with a Shelby County Sheriff’s Office deputy were released by the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office on Thursday, Aug. 24.
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Criminal JusticeMemphis has a juvenile curfew, but we don’t know if it works
City of Memphis Chief Communications Officer Allison Fouche confirmed the city isn’t collecting data on the number of youths detained: “Our focus has been on enforcing the curfew when necessary.”
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Criminal Justice What is a conservatorship, and what does it do in the Michael Oher case?
Most often used for those unable to make their own decisions, a conservatorship in Michael Oher’s case was a means to allow him to play football at Ole Miss, Sean Tuohy contends.
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Criminal Justice City appealing ruling in class-action rape kit backlog suit
Attorneys for the City of Memphis are appealing the class-action status of a lawsuit against the city over its lack of testing of more than 12,000 rape kits.
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Criminal Justice Family retains attorney Ben Crump following death in MPD custody
Courtney Ross’ death is the fourth local case with which civil rights attorney Ben Crump has become involved.
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NeighborhoodsPast partner’s history jeopardizes Southeast Memphis housing project
One of the projects that has long been announced by Horizon, but has yet to move forward, is a development called Kirby Pointe Apartments, which has had its own issues and legal battles.
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Criminal JusticeCity prepared for ‘uncharted territory’ prior to Nichols’ video release
According to emails released to The Daily Memphian, the MFD prepped for an “all hands on deck” situation while preparing for potential civil unrest following the release of footage of Tyre Nichols’ traffic stop.
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Criminal Justice Two properties declared nuisances in South Memphis
“These locations have been the site of repeated crimes in the neighborhood and have been the subject of numerous complaints from residents as being not only the site, but the drivers of crime in that neighborhood.”
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Free
Criminal JusticeSuspect at Hebrew Academy shooting is former student
The alleged shooter is reportedly a former student at the Academy and is Jewish, per an updated statement from Congressman Steve Cohen.
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Criminal JusticeFederal probe into MPD brings questions, cheers, fears it won’t go far enough
The new federal investigation puts Memphis in the company of other cities that have been the subject of scrutiny after high-profile instances of police violence.
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July 2023
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Metro DOJ announces pattern and practice investigation into MPD
Department of Justice Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Civil Rights Division said that the investigation is not tied to one specific incident or unit of MPD.
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