Memphis Felon Dotson Faces Decade for Gym Shooting

MEMPHIS, TN – A federal jury delivered a guilty verdict today for Marcus Dotson, 27, of Memphis, Tennessee, for the illegal possession of ammunition as a convicted felon. The conviction stems from a brazen shooting incident at a local community center in 2016, and could land Dotson in prison for up to ten years.

On the evening of February 5, 2016, Memphis Police Department officers responded to reports of an aggravated assault at the Riverside Community Center, located at 1891 Kansas Street. The scene: a youth basketball scrimmage about to begin with children aged 6 to 10. Dotson, accompanied by his 14-year-old nephew, entered the gymnasium reportedly searching for a 16-year-old victim, according to testimony presented at trial.

The situation escalated quickly. Dotson, already a convicted felon, engaged in a heated argument with individuals on the bleachers. He then brandished a firearm and fired a single shot into the gymnasium ceiling, sending patrons scrambling for cover. Dotson and his nephew immediately fled the scene, leaving behind chaos and fear. A warrant was issued for Dotson’s arrest, and he was apprehended two weeks later.

Evidence presented at trial included a recovered .40 caliber shell casing found at the scene, surveillance footage depicting Dotson and his nephew fleeing the community center, and positive identification of Dotson by witnesses through a photo lineup. The Memphis Police Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods Unit spearheaded the investigation, building a solid case against the defendant.

The guilty verdict was handed down following a jury trial presided over by U.S. Senior District Judge Samuel H. Mays. Dotson now faces a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine for the single count conviction. This isn’t just about a gun; it’s about a reckless act that endangered children and terrorized a community.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen Hartridge and Jerry Kitchen successfully prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. Sentencing is scheduled for July 14, 2017, at 10 a.m. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the final sentencing.