On a Sunday morning in February 2024, a wave of violence swept through Memphis, Tennessee, leaving a trail of chaos and ending the life of 32-year-old Mark Jones. The tragic events of February 11th began to unfold around 10:00 a.m. with a carjacking of a Nissan Maxima, an act that would escalate into a series of shootings and further carjackings. It was amidst this city-wide crime spree that police officers, at approximately 10:15 a.m., discovered the body of Mark Jones at one of the crime scenes. The specific details of how he was killed were not immediately made public. Jones was identified as a Black male.
The violent rampage that claimed Jones's life also left two women shot, one of whom sustained critical injuries. A young boy was also injured by a dog bite at the same location where one of the shootings occurred. Another scene was marked by gunfire, though fortunately, no one was physically harmed there. The string of violent acts sparked a citywide manhunt for the person responsible.
Later that same day, the search for the suspect concluded. At 3:43 p.m., after a foot chase, authorities apprehended 20-year-old Courdarion Craft. At the time of this violent spree, Craft was already facing serious charges for attempted first-degree murder and aggravated robbery but had been released on a $100,000 bond. Following his capture for the events of February 11th, that bond was revoked.
In the aftermath of the deadly crime spree, a Shelby County Grand Jury handed down a 48-count indictment against Courdarion Craft. The charges against him include the first-degree murder of Mark Jones, as well as aggravated assault and carjacking. Craft is currently being held in the Shelby County Jail without bond as he awaits trial for the series of crimes that tragically cut short the life of Mark Jones.
