In the heart of Nashville, a burst of violence on a Wednesday night forever silenced 41-year-old Stefvon DWayne Murphy Sr. and left a community searching for answers. On September 9, 2020, inside an apartment in the Cheatham Place Homes, what began as a visit between acquaintances ended in a hail of gunfire. Murphy, known affectionately as 'Big Step,' was visiting with a 59-year-old woman and a 49-year-old man in the woman's home when the shooting erupted.
The investigation pointed to
35-year-old Alphonso K. James, an acquaintance of the victims, as the man who entered the apartment and opened fire. While the two other victims were wounded, they ultimately survived. Stefvon Murphy, however, was not as fortunate and died at the scene. The motive for this sudden and tragic act of violence remained under investigation in the immediate aftermath.
In the days that followed, the Metro Nashville Police Department actively searched for James, who was wanted for murder and two counts of attempted murder. The search for the fugitive spanned across Tennessee, with law enforcement agencies in Chattanooga assisting in the effort. After months on the run, on December 8, 2020, Alphonso James surrendered to the U.S. Marshal's Fugitive Task Force in downtown Nashville. His capture was the result of continuous contact between law enforcement and his family. James was subsequently booked into jail and held without bond pending a court hearing.
