In the Binghampton neighborhood of Memphis, Tennessee, the life of 17-year-old Deago Levell Brown, an African American male, was tragically cut short on the evening of April 3, 2017. Brown was standing outside a corner store in the 300 block of Tillman, holding a bag of chips, when he was fatally shot. The single gunshot wound to his head ended his life in what was believed to be a gang-related act of violence that left the community on edge with fears of potential retaliation.
Deago was
remembered by those who knew him as a talented artist who had recently reconnected with the Carpenter Art Garden, a local community center for young people. His sudden and violent death prompted an investigation that would soon lead to an arrest, shining a light on the issue of youth and gang violence in the city.
The investigation into Deago Brown's murder led authorities to Teriyona Winton. In January 2018, the then 16-year-old Winton was indicted on first-degree murder charges in connection with Brown's death. Investigators alleged that on the evening of the shooting, Winton, who was 15 at the time of the incident, walked up to Brown and shot him once in the head.
The case was taken on by the Multi-Agency Gang Prosecution Unit, a specialized team focused on violent crimes involving gang members. If convicted of the charges, Teriyona Winton faced the possibility of a life sentence in prison for her alleged role in the death of Deago Brown.
