MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Shelby County Grand jury has indicted the suspect in a deadly crime spree in February 2024.
Courdarion Craft was indicted on 48 counts related to a crime spree, including first-degree murder, aggravated assault, carjacking, evading arrest, and more. He is currently in the Shelby County Jail without bond.
Memphis Police said on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, Courdarian Craft had been out on a $100,000 bond in a November 2023 case when he went on the crime spree that day.
Memphis Police said during the three-hour spree, Craft shot and killed one man, injured two women, and carjacked two vehicles. That led to a citywide manhunt for the 20-year-old suspect.
Summary of incidents from the Shelby County D.A.'s Office:
- 9:15 AM: Man at 3830 Shelby Drive found his truck's window broken. Surveillance identified Craft.
- 10:00 AM: Woman carjacked at 3715 Shelby Drive. Craft took her blue 2010 Nissan Maxima.
- 10:15 AM: Fares Yahya shot and killed at 3834 Shelby Drive. Craft was identified from surveillance and admitted involvement.
- 11:15 AM: Witness reported shots fired into a church at 3959 Pilot Dr.
- 11:35 AM: Shots fired at 3850 AirPark, damaging a security system valued over $50,000.
- 11:40 AM: Woman witnessed a shooting at 3582 Commerce Circle, resulting in multiple injuries and the death of a dog.
- 12:05 PM: Woman witnessed a carjacking at 2765 Perkins Rd. Craft took a Dodge Charger, abandoning the blue Maxima.
“Crime sprees like this simply won’t be tolerated," said D.A. Steve Mulroy in a news release. "We’ll prosecute them vigorously, as evidenced by the 48 counts in this week’s indictment. The defendant remains in custody pending trial, and we intend to keep it that way.”
The Shelby County District Attorney’s Office said in a statement the November 2023 case was dismissed by a judge Feb. 9 after Craft did not appear for a preliminary hearing, but prosecutors had planned to present that case to a grand jury for the indictment, which came Tuesday, Feb. 13. According to court documents, Craft was indicted for attempted first-degree murder, attempted especially aggravated robbery, and employing a firearm during a felony for the November incident.
According to the affidavit in that case, Craft is accused of robbing and shooting a man on Nov. 10, 2023, in the 900 block of Saxon, after agreeing to buy some shoes from the victim. Investigators said the victim had been shot several times during the attempted robbery.
A statement from the judge in the November case said, "It was not a nolle prosequi, meaning the state no longer wishes to prosecute, to the contrary it is a nolle prosequi failure to appear. Which is issued, at the request of the state when a defendant does not appear for preliminary hearing. This case then goes to indictment stage."
"It's important to clarify that our office does not set bonds," said a statement from the D.A.'s office. "This responsibility lies with judicial commissioners and judges. However, we can recommend that bonds be revoked, as we did in Craft's case. Today, our efforts were successful, and a judge has revoked all of Craft's bonds, ensuring that he remains in jail."
Craft also faces a slew of charges in several other cases, including theft and evading arrest. A judge revoked Craft’s bond in those cases.