In the quiet community of Lakeland, a suburb of Memphis, Tennessee, the life of 54-year-old Erin Last was tragically cut short on January 14, 2023. A woman who had celebrated another year of life just days before, she was found shot to death on Breezy Shores Cove, her death marking another grim statistic in the scourge of gun violence. The incident shattered the peace of the neighborhood and left a community in mourning.
The investigation into her death quickly revealed a connection to a
violent crime spree that had unfolded on the same day. Authorities linked her murder to a home invasion and an attempted carjacking that had occurred in the Lakeland area, suggesting a terrifying randomness to the violence that had claimed her life. The brazen nature of these crimes, culminating in a senseless murder, sent a wave of fear and apprehension through the local community as they awaited answers.
In the weeks that followed, the Shelby County Sheriff's Office made significant headway in the case. Their investigation led them to two suspects, 24-year-old Demarquarious Smith and another man, who were apprehended on February 10, 2023. The pair were subsequently indicted by a Shelby County Grand Jury on a slew of serious charges, including first-degree murder in the death of Erin Last. The indictment also included charges of especially aggravated burglary, convicted felon in possession of a firearm, attempted carjacking, and employing a firearm during a felony, painting a picture of a dangerous and desperate crime spree. Smith faced additional separate charges of kidnapping, robbery, and burglary. Both men were held in the Shelby County Jail as they awaited the progression of their cases through the judicial system.
