In the winter of 2019, the community of McMinnville, Tennessee, was shaken by the violent and unexpected death of Darius Michael 'Reese' Bishop. A 33-year-old male, Bishop was known as a friendly and well-liked individual, a 2004 graduate of Warren County High School where he had been a standout basketball player, known to his peers as 'King Bishop'. His life was cut tragically short on a Friday night in January.
On the evening of January 11, 2019, Bishop was at his home on Lind Street in McMinnville with several other people when the ordinary peace of the night was shattered. Two masked men forced their way through the front door of the residence. In a courageous act to defend his home and those within it, Bishop confronted the intruders. It was during this confrontation that he was shot. Despite being rushed to St. Thomas River Park Hospital, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
The investigation into the homicide was a collaborative effort involving the McMinnville Police Department, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and the 31st District Attorney General's Office. Their joint efforts quickly led to a breakthrough in the case. Just two days after the fatal shooting, on Sunday, January 13, 2019, law enforcement officers arrested 43-year-old Terrence Lamont Malone. He was charged with felony murder and especially aggravated burglary in connection with Bishop's death and was booked into the Warren County Jail with a bond set at $1.5 million.
The investigation did not end with Malone's arrest, as authorities believed more than one individual was involved in the home invasion. Their continued work led to a second arrest nearly three months later. In April 2019, the Warren County Grand Jury returned indictments against 39-year-old James Earl Wells, Jr. for his alleged role in the crime. Wells faced a string of serious charges, including one count of First Degree Murder, one count of Attempt to Commit Especially Aggravated Burglary, and four counts of Aggravated Assault. He was taken into custody by the McMinnville Police Department and booked into the Warren County Jail on a $1,100,000 bond, marking another significant step in the pursuit of justice for Darius Bishop.
