Teen accused of killing man who interrupted car burglary
Dec 17, 2024
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- A teen is accused of killing a man who was trying to stop him from breaking into his vehicles outside his Southeast Shelby County home.
Donte Eddings, 19, has been charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Fernando Jones on October 21 in the 7100 block of Cutter Mill Road.
Donte Eddings (SCSO)
The Shelby County Sheriff's Officer says Jones saw at least four people breaking into his automobiles and when he opened his front door to confront them, he was gunned down.
Investigators said surveillance video showed the suspects arrive in a white Honda sedan armed with handguns and rifles and attempt to burglarize the victim's vehicles and his neighbor's car.
SCSO arrest 8 men in connection to car theft ring, homicide
According to police, the video also showed a suspect in a yellow hoodie with an 'A' emblem running toward the white Honda and firing a short-barreled rifle toward the victim's front door.
SCSO said a detective assigned to its Auto Theft Unit recognized the distinct yellow hoodie from an attempted car burglary two months earlier and identified Eddings as the suspect.
Investigators said when Eddings was brought in for questioning, he admitted to wearing the yellow Sheffield High hoodie during both incidents. When he was shown footage of the shooting on Cutter Miller Road, he admitted to firing the weapon.
Last month, three others were arrested in connection to the Cutter Mill Road homicide.
3 arrested in connection to deadly shooting of homeowner who confronted suspects
Left to right: Xavier King, Tredairious Willis, Jakarius Ishmon (Photos courtesy of the Shelby County Sheriff's Office)
Xavier King, Tedairious Willis, and Jakarius Ishmon were charged with accessory after the fact, fabricating/tampering with evidence, and arson for allegedly setting the getaway car on fire.
Investigators said the three suspects admitted to taking the stolen white Honda Accord to a park and burning it.
Police released this photo following the deadly shooting. A BOLO was issued for a white Honda Accord that detectives believed was near the scene at the time of the shooting. (Courtesy of the MPD)
When Eddings was taken into custody, he also had an active warrant for property theft and was on diversion for another motor vehicle burglary. He is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday.