In the summer of 2014, the life of a young man was tragically cut short in what authorities described as a violent home invasion. Keith Blevins, a 29-year-old Black male, was fatally shot on July 22, 2014, inside his residence in Memphis, Tennessee. The incident unfolded in the 4000 block of Rhodes Avenue, where two teenagers forcibly entered Blevins' home.
During the course of the home invasion, Blevins was shot and killed.
The investigation into the death of Keith Blevins led to the identification of two teenage suspects, William Allen and Dontayell Balfour. Both individuals were subsequently indicted on charges of first-degree murder in the perpetration of a felony. Following their indictment, Allen and Balfour remained in custody without bond. The Shelby County District Attorney’s Office took charge of the prosecution of the case against the two accused teenagers.
Further investigation revealed that William Allen was also implicated in another home invasion that occurred just two days after the fatal shooting of Blevins. In that separate incident, which took place in the 4400 block of Willow Road, Allen and another individual, 19-year-old Dontavious Curtis, were accused of stealing more than $10,000 worth of guns, watches, and jewelry at gunpoint. For their involvement in this second home invasion, both Allen and Curtis faced charges of aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary. Curtis was later released on a $25,000 bond.
