On July 13, 2020, a backyard dice game in Memphis, Tennessee, was winding down in the Binghampton area when the night turned violent. James Brown, 36, a Black/African American male, was among the small group still gathered near the 2800 block of Nathan Avenue, close to Scott Street, in the early-morning hours when the gunfire erupted.
According to prosecutors, most of the crowd had already drifted away when Terrell Jones pulled out a gun and confronted the remaining players.
Shots rang out in quick succession, striking multiple people; Brown and another victim, James Smith, were killed at the scene. A third person survived after being wounded and later described trying to stay motionless, hoping the shooter would leave. In the moments after the blasts, the suspect allegedly went through the victims’ pockets and took cash before fleeing.
Investigators developed Jones as a suspect, and the case soon moved from a neighborhood tragedy to a coordinated manhunt. On July 29, 2020, a multi-agency task force involving the U.S. Marshals Service and local partners took Jones into custody near the 2700 block of North Watkins without incident.
Authorities said Jones faced serious allegations tied to the Nathan Avenue killings. Prosecutors announced a grand jury indictment that included two counts of first-degree murder, along with additional charges stemming from the same episode, including attempted first-degree murder, especially aggravated robbery, and employing a firearm during a dangerous felony. Federal authorities also described Jones as being sought on other warrants connected to the case and related violations, including firearms-related allegations and a federal supervised release violation.
