MEMPHIS, TN – Stephen Derring, 47, will likely spend the next decade of his life behind bars after a federal jury found him guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm and discharging a weapon. The conviction comes after a two-day trial that laid bare a brazen act of violence in the heart of Memphis.
According to court documents, the trouble started outside Ralph’s Bar and Grill at 5162 Millbranch Road. Derring engaged in a physical altercation with patrons, then escalated the situation by retrieving a firearm from a nearby apartment complex. Witnesses testified that Derring brandished the weapon and fired a single shot before fleeing back to the apartment. The scene quickly descended into chaos, and thankfully, no one was seriously injured by the gunfire.
Law enforcement responded swiftly, giving chase to Derring before eventually apprehending him and recovering the firearm. The entire incident, a stark reminder of the gun violence plaguing our streets, is a direct result of a convicted felon having access to deadly weapons. This wasn’t a hunting accident; it was a deliberate act of aggression.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant didn’t mince words following the verdict. “Under our PSN initiative, we focus on removing firearms from the hands of prohibited persons, and removing dangerous felons from our streets,” he stated. “Clearly, this felon had no hesitation in committing a violent crime with a firearm, and he will now be removed from our community for up to 10 years. We are FED UP. Gun Crime is Max Time.”
The case was a collaborative effort under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a multi-agency task force comprised of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Memphis Police Department, and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. This coordinated approach is crucial in tackling the complex issue of gun violence and holding offenders accountable.
Derring is scheduled to be sentenced on September 19, 2019, before U.S. District Court Judge John T. Fowlkes, Jr. He faces a potential maximum sentence of ten years in federal prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marques Young prosecuted the case, ensuring that justice was served and a dangerous criminal is taken off the streets of Memphis. This conviction sends a clear message: if you’re a felon caught with a firearm, you *will* pay the price.
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Key Facts
- State: Tennessee
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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