In the spring of 2016, a life was tragically cut short on the streets of South Memphis. Willie Pressley, a 51-year-old man, was in the 1400 block of Woodard Avenue on the evening of April 26th when he was fatally shot. The incident prompted an investigation by the Memphis Police Department, which soon led them to a teenage suspect.
Less than a month after Pressley's death, authorities announced the arrest of 18-year-old Michael Tillman. He was taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the shooting. The swift arrest brought a sense of progress in the case, as the legal process began to unfold for the man accused of ending Willie Pressley's life.
In 2019, the case against Michael Tillman reached its conclusion. In a turn of events, Tillman pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter. As a result of his plea, he was sentenced to six years in prison for his role in Willie Pressley's death. After serving a portion of his sentence, which included credit for time already spent in jail, Tillman's sentence concluded in May of 2020.
