On a Sunday afternoon in Memphis, Tennessee, 31-year-old Tedarius Day was tragically killed, an unintended victim in a violent shootout. He was in his car with three of his young children, reportedly on their way to a park on October 29, 2023, when he was struck in the head by a stray bullet. The incident unfolded outside the 'Tha Table' restaurant in the Whitehaven area, located in the 3200 block of Elvis Presley Boulevard.
When police arrived at the chaotic scene, they discovered Day inside his vehicle with a gunshot wound and he was pronounced dead.
The events that led to the fatal shooting began when individuals were attempting to break into cars in the restaurant's parking lot. The owner of the restaurant, Alfonzo Turner, reportedly confronted the suspects and fired shots at them as they were leaving. In retaliation, the suspects returned and opened fire on the restaurant. During this exchange of gunfire, both Turner and Tedarius Day were hit. Turner was critically injured and later succumbed to his wounds at a local hospital.
Two days after the shooting, on October 31, 2023, authorities arrested two suspects in connection with the double homicide. Following a car chase involving a stolen Infiniti, police took 20-year-old Darion Banks and 22-year-old Michael Shaffer into custody. Inside the stolen vehicle, officers discovered an AR-15 semi-automatic pistol, a Glock handgun with a drum magazine, and a Glock switch.
Darion Banks faced multiple serious charges for his alleged role in the incident. In February 2024, a grand jury indicted him on charges including two counts of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, reckless endangerment, theft, intentionally evading arrest, tampering with evidence, and possession of a prohibited weapon. According to police reports, Banks admitted to being the driver of the stolen car and returning to the restaurant where the shooting occurred, though he denied firing any shots himself. Michael Shaffer, the driver during the police pursuit, was indicted on charges of evading arrest and car theft. Initial reports of murder charges against Shaffer were later clarified by the Shelby County District Attorney's Office as a clerical error.
