GUILTY TN - Taylor Bradford, 21, shot to death, University of Memphis, 30 Sept 2007

Another tragic killing of a college student.

http://www.wmctv.com/global/story.asp?s=7149837

This young man went to high school just one mile from where I grew up, and he was killed in an area I recall vividly from hanging out on the Univ. of Memphis's campus (best friend went there, I went to another school). His dad coached at the high school from which my nephew graduated two years ago.

Taylor was apparently a very well-liked young man and a standout in his frat. The Kappas (at least where I went to school) were one of the more serious, professional black fraternities, and they did a lot of good work around town (some of the frats went in for some pretty terrible hazing and heavy partying -- not this one, if I remember right). Kappa men were usually clean-cut, church-going guys. That certainly may have changed in 20 years, but I kind of doubt it.

Memphis police don't know if the shooting was random or not. Taylor had only been at U of M this year -- just over a month. How could he have made any enemies in that amount of time? I wonder if this is going to end up like Bryan Pata in Miami. Last I heard, his murder was still unsolved.

Steve/Mr. A

Hopefully the cameras in the area will show something that will lead to the arrest of the one who did this.

I wonder if these 2 murders are connected or random.. it seems a lot of shootings or fatal car accident's for Miami (article in second link above) and this current one in Memphis that involved both a shooting and car accident.

I live here in Memphis and this sort of stuff just keeps happening. This week is the Mayor's election. Our Mayor has been in office 16 years. He is self serving and our city becomes more racially devided by the day. It is time for new blood to step in and get our city back under control. These senseless acts of violence are happening much to often.
This is just heartbreaking. This mornings news had not released this young mans name pending him being ID'd by his parents driving in from Nashville. My heart broke at how awful that drive must have been for them.

This breaks my heart and scares me to death.

2XL said:

I live here in Memphis and this sort of stuff just keeps happening. This week is the Mayor's election. Our Mayor has been in office 16 years. He is self serving and our city becomes more racially devided by the day. It is time for new blood to step in and get our city back under control. These senseless acts of violence are happening much to often.
This is just heartbreaking. This mornings news had not released this young mans name pending him being ID'd by his parents driving in from Nashville. My heart broke at how awful that drive must have been for them.

This breaks my heart and scares me to death.

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2XL...is there a lot of crime in Memphis?? I've noticed on shows like "The First 48" and "Cops" that they are in Memphis quite a bit. It could just be the media blowing it way out of proportion!!

misterallgood said:

This young man went to high school just one mile from where I grew up, and he was killed in an area I recall vividly from hanging out on the Univ. of Memphis's campus (best friend went there, I went to another school). His dad coached at the high school from which my nephew graduated two years ago.

Taylor was apparently a very well-liked young man and a standout in his frat. The Kappas (at least where I went to school) were one of the more serious, professional black fraternities, and they did a lot of good work around town (some of the frats went in for some pretty terrible hazing and heavy partying -- not this one, if I remember right). Kappa men were usually clean-cut, church-going guys. That certainly may have changed in 20 years, but I kind of doubt it.

Memphis police don't know if the shooting was random or not. Taylor had only been at U of M this year -- just over a month. How could he have made any enemies in that amount of time? I wonder if this is going to end up like Bryan Pata in Miami. Last I heard, his murder was still unsolved.

Steve/Mr. A

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The Kappas still are good upstanding young men, at least all the ones I know and went to school with. My son will be pledging that frat...runs in the family. It's such a shame when this happens to young men trying to make a good life for themself by getting an education and not being a gangbanger/drug dealer. My prayers to his parents...this must be heartbreaking for them. Things have changed so much...this kind of stuff doesn't just happen in the inner city, but everywhere....

What a sad, sad thing to happen. From all reports that I've read, he had such promise. May he rest in peace.

czechmate7 said:

2XL...is there a lot of crime in Memphis?? I've noticed on shows like "The First 48" and "Cops" that they are in Memphis quite a bit. It could just be the media blowing it way out of proportion!!

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Unfortunatly it is not the media blowing out of proportion. On the radio this morning they said that Memphis is voted #1 in crime. This city is out of control. Our mayor has let it go to hell in a hand basket. Let me preface what I am about to say, I am not racist. I believe that we are all created equal. I don't care what color you are. Having said that, memphis is about 80 black. Our mayor is black, he keeps getting elected, been in office about 16 years and not doing schitt. There are two mayoral candidates that are running against, one is a white woman who is currently a council woman. THe other used to be president of Memphis Light Gas and water, and at one time was a friend of the mayor. This man is also black and he is a smart man whom I believe will make a difference. This is turning into a racial race, which it seems to always be.

People are absolutely demanding a change in this city, It is out of control and getting worse by the day. It is not safe for your children to play outside. Children are being killed by drive bys while playing in the park. I guess thugs out shooting for the sport of it.

It it very frieghtening.

I live in one of the suburbs of Memphis, so I don't get to vote in this race. But I work in Memphis, so it all affects us all.

We need healing.

I heard that they found $7,000 in cash in his car?? and that he had been to a casino just before he was shot. I watched part of the Marshall Memphis game tonight. They honored him at the game.

What a tragedy. I feel so badly for his family and friends.

From May 2010:

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/devin-j...u-of-memphis-football-player-taylor-bradford/

The man prosecutors say orchestrated the robbery plan that ended in the 2007 fatal shooting of University of Memphis football player Taylor Bradford was convicted of murder Sunday after jurors deliberated through the weekend.

Devin Jefferson, 23, was automatically sentenced by Judge Chris Craft to life in prison, where he must serve 51 years before he can be considered for release...

[T]wo of his alleged accomplices testified during trial that Jefferson told them Bradford had money, showed them where he lived on campus and helped them locate him the night he was killed...

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From May 2011:

http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/story/18541285/2-plead-guilty-to-taylor-bradford-murder

Daeshawn Tate and Courtney Washington both entered guilty pleas in exchange for reduced charges for the 2007 robbery and fatal shooting.

Tate entered a guilty plea to Facilitation of First Degree Murder, and was sentenced 15 years in prison. Washington was sentenced to 12 years in prison for Facilitation of Second Degree Murder.

Devin Jefferson and Victor Trezevant, convicted as the mastermind and triggerman respectively, are both serving life sentences for Bradford's murder.

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