Memphis teen charged in 2024 attempted-robbery shooting is transferred to adult criminal court

Case moved after defendant turned 18; victim was 93-year-old Geraldine Harris

An 18-year-old defendant accused in a South Memphis robbery attempt that ended in a fatal shooting has been transferred from juvenile proceedings to adult criminal court, a shift that changes the potential sentencing exposure and court process in the case.

The prosecution centers on a January 17, 2024 shooting at a residence on the 1800 block of Kendale Avenue. Police responding that evening found three women who had been struck by gunfire. Geraldine Harris, 93, later died. Two other women were reported critically injured.

What the adult-court transfer means

The defendant was 17 at the time of the shooting and is now 18. With the case now in adult criminal court, it will proceed under Tennessee’s adult criminal procedures rather than the juvenile system’s focus on adjudication and rehabilitation. In practical terms, that typically affects bond considerations, public court records, litigation timelines, and—if there is a conviction—the range of available penalties.

Adult court does not determine guilt by itself; it changes the forum in which guilt or innocence will be decided. The state must still prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. The defense retains the right to challenge evidence, seek dismissal where appropriate, negotiate any potential resolution, or proceed to trial.

Charges filed in connection with the Kendale Avenue shooting

Authorities have identified the defendant as a suspect in the Kendale Avenue shooting and have announced charges that include first-degree murder and additional violent-felony counts tied to the injuries to the other two victims.

• First-degree murder
• Attempted first-degree murder (two counts)
• Aggravated assault (two counts)

Timeline and next steps

The transfer to adult court was announced March 5, 2026. The underlying shooting occurred January 17, 2024—more than two years earlier—placing the case among a group of serious violent-crime prosecutions that can take extended periods to move from investigation to charging decisions, court hearings, and ultimately trial settings.

In the next phase, the case is expected to move through standard adult-court milestones, which can include an initial appearance in the receiving court, bond review, arraignment, motions hearings, and discovery litigation. Prosecutors will have to present admissible evidence tying the defendant to the shooting and to the elements of each charged offense. Defense attorneys can contest identification, intent, and the reliability or legality of any statements, forensic findings, or witness accounts.

The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

No trial date or disposition was included in the transfer announcement. Court records and scheduled hearings will determine the pace and direction of the case as it proceeds in adult criminal court.