In the spring of 2016, a young man's life was tragically cut short on the streets of Memphis. Terrance Kellum, a 20-year-old male, was discovered shot to death on a Sunday in the Cooper-Young neighborhood, at the intersection of South McLean and Evelyn. The discovery of his body marked the beginning of a swift-moving investigation into the circumstances that led to his violent demise.
The initial stages of the police inquiry focused on the personal effects of the victim, and a crucial
clue soon emerged. Kellum's iPhone had been taken from him during the fatal encounter. In an effort to trace his last moments, family members repeatedly called the missing phone. Their persistence paid off, leading investigators to a 20-year-old man named Steven Brown. It was alleged that Brown had sold the phone shortly after the shooting, a transaction that would ultimately connect him to the crime.
As the investigation deepened, witnesses came forward and were able to identify Brown from a photo lineup. According to written statements provided to the police, Brown had reportedly told others that he had killed Kellum. The purported motive for this tragic act was an accusation that Kellum had stolen money from the Vice Lords street gang. Based on the witness testimony and the recovery of the stolen cellphone, Steven Brown was taken into custody and subsequently charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of Terrance Kellum.
