Teen accused of killing ‘watermelon man’ transferred to adult court
Demarion Tackett, who is accused of killing John Materna, was given a $100,000 bail by Shelby County Juvenile Court Judge Tarik Sugarmon. (The Daily Memphian file)
Demarion Tackett, 16, is accused of shooting 76-year-old John Materna, who was known for selling watermelons in The Heights neighborhood, on May 15, 2023. Materna died in the hospital two weeks after being shot.
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Watermelon Man Juvenile Court Shelby County Juvenile Court Judge Tarik SugarmonAarron Fleming
Aarron Fleming covers Memphis and Shelby County’s court system and is a member of The Daily Memphian’s public safety reporting team. He formerly covered education and earned his B.A. in journalism from the University of Memphis.
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