Harbor Town residents are breathing a sigh of relief after Memphis Police arrest a man they say killed a woman during a robbery earlier this week.
According to Memphis Police, 21-year-old Kurtrell Williams is charged with First Degree Murder, First Degree Murder in Perpetration of Robbery, First Degree Murder in Perpetration of Burglary, Aggravated Robbery and Especially Aggravated Burglary.
On Tuesday, November 7 at 6:47 p.m. officers were called to 962 Island Drive where they found 56-year-old Susan Grissom on the kitchen floor with multiple gunshot wounds.
“Clearly people are worried,” said Rebecca Laumann, who has lived in Harbor Town for 17 years. “This never happens here I’ve lived here 17 years and this is the first time.”
The home was burglarized and the victim was also robbed.
During the investigation, detectives obtained video that showed the suspect attempting to use Grissom’s stolen card at a convenience store in the area of Crump and Third. According to investigators, Williams used the card less than an hour before Grissom’s husband found her body. Friday investigators released that video.
“That is a first and how they picked her, what the circumstances are that’s yet to come out but now that they’ve made an arrest hopefully we’ll get the full story and see exactly what happened,” said George Clark, who has lived in the neighborhood for 14 years.
On Friday MPD received numerous Crime Stoppers tips after the surveillance video and pictures of the suspect was shared with the public.
At 6:21 p.m. Friday, officers were able find Williams in the 3800 Brighton in northeast Memphis, thanks to those tips. He was arrested without incident.
According to an affidavit, Williams admitted to going into Grissom’s home, firing multiple shots at her, and then taking cash and her Regions Bank Card. Williams told investigators that when he left the scene, he drove to the Exxon at Third and Crump, where he attempted to get cash out of the ATM. He says he later threw out the card in the 4300 block of Mendenhall, where it was recovered by detectives.
“I’m very relieved that they caught this person and at least that person is off the street,” Clark explained.
Since this murder, Harbor Town residents have been revisiting the security on their home.
“Yes we have an alarm, but I’m thinking about getting a camera installed,” Laumann explained.
“We’re more alert, we always keep the doors locked and the gate latched and we have dogs so we’re very cautious about them getting out so we always keep the gate locked and latched for the most part,” Clark said.
Grissom will be laid to rest Monday at Second Presbyterian Church. Her visitation is Sunday at Memorial Park Funeral home.
Williams was arraigned Monday and remains in jail without bond.
