On a cold and snowy evening in South Memphis, the life of Geraldine Harris, a 93-year-old retired schoolteacher, was tragically cut short. On January 17, 2024, a shooting incident unfolded inside her home in the 1800 block of Kendale Avenue, leaving two other women injured and the community in shock. When Memphis Police arrived at the scene, they found Ms. Harris had succumbed to her injuries.
The incident was described as a particularly gruesome murder by her son, Ronald Harris. He recounted how the assailant entered the family home, shot his mother, and then proceeded upstairs to shoot his sister-in-law and attempt to shoot her children. The shooting, which also critically injured another adult and a teenager, stemmed from a disagreement between the victims and two men, according to police. For nearly 18 months, the family awaited a breakthrough in the case, expressing their frustration as they sought justice for their matriarch.
A significant development came on July 24, 2025, when the U.S. Marshals Service Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force apprehended 18-year-old Derrion Taylor at a residence in the 3000 block of Colony Drive in Memphis. Taylor, who was 17 at the time of the shooting, was charged with first-degree murder in connection with Ms. Harris's death. He also faces two counts of attempted first-degree murder and aggravated assault charges.
Following his arrest, Derrion Taylor appeared for a detention hearing where a Memphis Police Homicide detective testified about the danger he posed to the community, advocating for a substantial bond. The Juvenile Magistrate set his bond at $1 million. At the time of his arrest for the murder, Taylor also had outstanding adult warrants for other unrelated offenses, including theft of property and possession of burglary tools. The family of Geraldine Harris, while relieved by the arrest, views it as the first step in a long journey to see justice served. The investigation into the homicide remains active.
