Student charged in Bradford case
By: Travis Griggs
Staff Reporter
Issue date: 10/9/07 Section: News
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University of Memphis student Devin Jefferson, 21, and three other men have been charged with first-degree murder and the aggravated robbery of Taylor Bradford.
The other three men charged are DaeShawn Tate, 21; Victor Trezevant, 21; and Courtney Washington, 22.
Attorney General Bill Gibbons said the state could seek the death penalty in the case.
The Daily Helmsman reported Oct. 3 that Memphis Police were seeking Jefferson for information in the case.
Jefferson was arrested in June for second-degree murder in the death of 18-year-old Jarvis Seaborne, but was later released after the district attorney ruled it a justifiable homicide.
According to a June 25 police report, Jefferson was sitting on a porch in the Summer-National neighborhood when he was approached by Seaborne.
Jefferson said Seaborne was holding a gun. Jefferson then shot Seaborne in the head after he said Seaborne tried to rob him.
Memphis firefighters pronounced Seaborne dead when they found him in the yard in a pool of blood.
Police later found the gun wrapped inside a T-shirt in the home.
Memphis Police Director Larry Godwin said Bradford was targeted because he was carrying a large amount of cash.
"(Bradford) was targeted because of some information that was out there and the fact that they believed he had some cash," Godwin said.
In a statement Monday afternoon, University President Shirley Raines thanked witnesses who came forward with information.
"As we all know, the criminal justice system must still weigh in on the final judgment of this matter, but these arrests do confirm the original belief that this was a targeted attack, and not a random act of violence," Raines said.
Godwin declined to specify what connection the suspects had to Bradford.
Officials said the suspects, one of whom had a felony record, will appear in court today.
Gibbons said that, because the four suspects were acting together, they are considered a gang and will be prosecuted by the Gang and Narcotics Prosecuting Unit.
The other three men charged are DaeShawn Tate, 21; Victor Trezevant, 21; and Courtney Washington, 22.
Attorney General Bill Gibbons said the state could seek the death penalty in the case.
The Daily Helmsman reported Oct. 3 that Memphis Police were seeking Jefferson for information in the case.
Jefferson was arrested in June for second-degree murder in the death of 18-year-old Jarvis Seaborne, but was later released after the district attorney ruled it a justifiable homicide.
According to a June 25 police report, Jefferson was sitting on a porch in the Summer-National neighborhood when he was approached by Seaborne.
Jefferson said Seaborne was holding a gun. Jefferson then shot Seaborne in the head after he said Seaborne tried to rob him.
Memphis firefighters pronounced Seaborne dead when they found him in the yard in a pool of blood.
Police later found the gun wrapped inside a T-shirt in the home.
Memphis Police Director Larry Godwin said Bradford was targeted because he was carrying a large amount of cash.
"(Bradford) was targeted because of some information that was out there and the fact that they believed he had some cash," Godwin said.
In a statement Monday afternoon, University President Shirley Raines thanked witnesses who came forward with information.
"As we all know, the criminal justice system must still weigh in on the final judgment of this matter, but these arrests do confirm the original belief that this was a targeted attack, and not a random act of violence," Raines said.
Godwin declined to specify what connection the suspects had to Bradford.
Officials said the suspects, one of whom had a felony record, will appear in court today.
Gibbons said that, because the four suspects were acting together, they are considered a gang and will be prosecuted by the Gang and Narcotics Prosecuting Unit.