text: Memphis police arrest alleged getaway driver in Collierville contractor's killing » The Commercial Appeal
  Memphis police arrest alleged getaway driver in Collierville contractor's killing
  By Jody Callahan, Beth Warren
  Posted October 15, 2013 at 12:49 p.m., updated October 15, 2013 at 10:20 p.m.
  Derek Cunningham is seen in a photo posted to his Facebook page.
  John "J.P." Shelley
  The 17-year-old alleged getaway driver in the robbery and murder of a Collierville contractor told police his cut for helping carrying out the crime was $40 and a cellphone, a prosecutor said Tuesday during the teen's arraignment.
  Terrell Dreshun Deandre "T.J." Johnson, 17, who dyed the top of his hair burgundy, told investigators he helped plan the robbery of two men and agreed to be the getaway driver if he got paid, Asst. Dist. Atty. Bridgett Stigger said, reading for a police affidavit.
  Johnson said he parked on the side of an abandoned house at 4776 Scottsdale in Parkway Village on Oct. 4 as his friends hopped out and rushed their victims, contractor John "J.P." Shelley and Octavio Sanchez, fatally shooting Shelley and stealing wallets, cash and iPhone and an iPad, police allege.
  Johnson, a Wooddale High School student who is tall and lanky, remained attentive and whispered questions to his attorneys Tuesday during his first hearing in Shelby County Juvenile Court. His mother audibly sobbed, prompting the judge to ask if she needed a brief break, but she declined.
  Magistrate Sheldon McCall found probable cause the teen committed the offenses of aggravated robbery and first-degree murder in the perpetration of a felony. McCall ordered the youth locked up for now. McCall also granted defense attorneys James Sanders and Mitzi Pollard another hearing next week to reexamine probable cause and detention.
  After the hearing, Johnson's mother turned to talk to her son and he began to walk toward her but was stopped by bailiffs.
  Outside court, the youth's mother and aunt declined to comment.
  His attorneys said Johnson's only arrests have been for misdemeanors and he is worried about the charges. Prosecutors already have filed notice of intent to seek transfer to adult court of his two alleged armed accomplices, Derek Cunningham, 15, and Corey Cortez Sandifer, 16.
  "He's never had any serious offenses before, so there's a level of distress," Sanders said of the 17-year-old.
  Investigators first tracked down Cunningham, whom they label the triggerman, on Friday. Then Sandifer turned himself in to police on Sunday. Johnson was arrested Monday. All face the same felony charges.
  On his Facebook page, Cunningham posts photos of himself spreading hundred-dollar bills as if they were cards in several posts — including one dated two days after the murder. He is also is shown flashing what appear to be gang signs. One of them features the two inner fingers wrapped around each other to form a "W," the common sign for the West Side street gang.
  In another post, he is smoking what appears to be marijuana, while making repeated references to getting high.
  He references his father's death in a September post, "R.I.P. Daddy," with a photo of himself in white "funeral clothes." Derek Cunningham Sr., died in his sleep in September at age 50.
  Both Cunningham and Sandifer have extensive criminal records.
  Since his first brush with the law in 2009, when he was 11 years old, Cunningham has been arrested for domestic assault, reckless burning, disorderly conduct, trespassing, aggravated sexual battery, vandalism, resisting arrest and shoplifting. All were misdemeanors except for aggravated sexual battery, a felony. In May 2012, he was remanded into the custody of the Department of Children's Services, where he stayed until April of this year.
  Since his first arrest in 2011, Sandifer has been taken into custody for truancy, disorderly conduct, vandalism, trespassing, assault and obstructing the highway. All were misdemeanors except vandalism, a felony charge that was later dismissed.
  Judge calls Memphis teen who supplied gun as responsible as triggerman in Craigslist murder
  don't let these 'kids' see the light of day for at least 50 years...or better yet, take the animals to the pound
  Lock them up forever......enough is enough with all violent crime.
  Pathetic scumbags one and all. Could we see what their parents have to say about the little darlins?
  in response to jamescunn:
  I agree. I don't watch TV news much anymore because most of it is just lazy journalism. But I think I might pay to see a camera in the face of the mommys and daddys of these thugs and some hard hitting questions asked of them.
  Keep shakin' that tree!
  Seems like they're getting older too. Hmmm....
  Wonder if this could have been part of an initiation? If so, more charges "should" be coming.
  I'm hoping that the police & DA are making this case so airtight that not even Leslie Ballin can get these lowlife's off.
  These young men decided to commit an adult crime and they need to do adult time. It's really too bad they're not eligible for the death penalty.
  Sandino writes:
  I'm not around many young people, but I really don't understand the level of desperation it takes for a teenager to shoot someone over a few bucks, a cellphone, or whatever. Part of it is the degredation of culture among the underclass and the widespread depiction and referencing of violence in the media, but seriously? Look at all the ruined lives resulting from this one split second, incredibly stupid event.
  Lack of respect for human life is everywhere though....our government is pretty good at it also....how many people are dead in Iraq for what?
  Whether its three stupid kids or the government, its all the same.
  Let us see what that Wendy dude of the CA says about this. I am sure the fault will be aimed against the deceased individual that was murdered and not against the black thugs that committed the crime.
  in response to Sandino:
  "Whether its three stupid kids or the government, its all the same."
  That probably sounded pretty smart when it was echoing around in your head, but it didn't translate to the written word very well.
  Other than that sentence (and the bit about Iraq) that we'll just pretend didn't get posted, I agree with you completely.
  C'mon people, cut these children some slack. They just needed a few bucks to go to the Circle K and buy some Skittles and Arizona Tea. Lighten up.
  What makes you think "desperation" had anything to do with it?
  Why wouldn't it? Do you know anything more about what is inside these kids than I do?
  Nope, that is why I don't assume things.
  Maybe he meant "level of depravity" rather than "level of desperation".
  Why? Unless the news put subtitles under the screen, any educated person would not be able to understand them.
  I have said this and I will keep saying it. City and County officials know full well where the problem exists.
  There is very little crime in Collierville.There is very little crime in Germantown.There is very little crime in E. Memphis.There is very little crime in Lakeland.There is very little crime in Bartlett.There is very little crime in Millington.There is very little crime in Arlington.
  Even the city of Memphis tells us the most crime ridden areas are.
  S. MemphisWhitehavenFrayserHickory Hill
  We are dealing with reality here. Stop all of the liberal political correctness of the Democratic party and attack the problem. Clean the problem up in these communities and you will solve 90% of the crime problem in Shelby County.
  I have plenty of experience with criminally minded juveniles. One common characteristic I see in these kids is simple ignorance. And, I mean ignorance in the true sense of that word.
  There is little remorse and a general lack of empathy. Many do shed tears over missing mom, and/ or being deprived of doing what they want when they want to. These teens easily form bonds with one another, and find the weakest kid to lord over.
  In almost every case there is no strong male role model. And, typically these kids are significantly below grade level in every area. Finally, most lack basic knowledge of hygiene and have to be shown repeatedly how to perform basic tasks like mopping or sweeping.
  As a teacher, I am always curious as to why so many lament the fact that teens who commit heinous crimes weren't in school "like they were supposed to be."
  However, there are some kids who simply do not belong in school. They don't follow basic rules. They foment an atmosphere of disrespect and typically disrespect classrooms by bullying teachers and peers.
  What is sad is that the percentage of these out of control youths are relatively low. We owe it to our community to identify these unconscious predators and remand them to controlled environments.
  My theory is that the numbers of these kids are growing exponentially each generation. They are not going away.
  Too many of these kids are in control and holding their families and community hostage. They are being allowed to negatively shape the image of African American urban males though they are a minuscule percentage of the population. But, their numbers are growing.
  I'd say you're spot on for most of your comment and not wrong about anything.
  The part about identifying these unconscious predators and remanding them to a controlled environment looks great and I'm sure most would like to see it happen. But as long as the laws read as they do, these punks have the protection of the law on their sides. They may not be able to or are uwilling to use a broom and mop but they do know they can get away with a lot of crap as minors. Nothing can be done unfortunately until they commit the crime and unless it's a major one they'll walk. It becomes a way of life and they don't fear it.
  NYC did do some major clean up of bad neighborhoods and subsequently there has been a reduction in crime. Maybe a little pride goes a long way.
  I wish I had the answers. People like Windy who have a pulpit to spew venom can talk all they want but it's acts like this that cause profiling. Not saying it's right but it is just a fact of life. Memphis better get a hold of this before it goes down the drain. Look at the infrastructure in most of these neighborhoods and you only see them falling down around themselves.
  tia626#744277 writes:
  If you commit an adult crime, you should expect adult time.
  There was a murder down at Harbor Town about 20 years ago. Five black youths kidnapped a young woman as she left her apartment and went to get something in her car. They brutally killed her. A friend of mine was on the police force at that time and he described these youths almost to a tee as you have here.He described them as having no remorse or empathy. He said in their cell they were cold as ice.
  Democrats are going to do nothing about crime. You might as well quit trying to convince them. The trial lawyers make too much money off of crime and we know how much Democrats like trial lawyers and their hefty campaign contributions.
  I wish we could go back to having court appointed soldiers in the military. I 've had guys who worked for me that were court appointed and they say that saved their lives (that is since they didn't get killed in Vietnam), but the military is too different now. I don't think you can do that.
  foofieman writes:
  Remember "always" carry a large caliber pistol in your pocket with your finger near the trigger!
  I don't disagree with your point about lawyers but as for it being a democrat thing???? Do you know what the following have in common? Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham, Lamar Alexander, Roger Wicker, Davit Vitter, Richard Shelby, Jeff Sessions.... they're all republican senators who are lawyers by trade. Most of your politicians are lawyers and it's always been that way. It's not a democrat thing. It's both sides and there a lot of laws on the books that benefit lawyers.
  There are good attorneys and evil attorneys (plaintiffs attorneys are evil). Most of the evil attorneys are Democrats. Don't know about your list of Republican attorney / politicians, but I would doubt that many of them are plaintiffs attorneys.
  The first 7 words of your comment are absolutely correct. There is nothing in the rest of your comment that has any merit since you're posting a blanket comment about people with nothing to back it up. If you think that all democrats are evil and all republicans are saints, you'd be incorrect.
  I guess if I were to make a blanket comment it might be nearly all politicians, both sides are crooks.
  sfdr#219121 writes:
  Yes, the lack of a father in the family is the primary problem.
  Which political party is more responsible for that?Liberals, democrats run large cities and they will not stand for getting really tough with these little thugs. And when a conservative advocates for that, he is called a racist.
  I was surfing around the Memphis Gangosphere on FB and found a pic of an HCG gang member holding his child. He looked to be late teens. "This the Reason why I didn't Catch a murder one yea living for my baby Girl daddy and mamma baby..." he said.
  "Studied at Wooddale" he said. Lots of pictures of him posing with guns and hundred dollar bills.
  This is what we have and there is going to be a lot more of it in the coming years. Nothing can be done.
  Check out Derek Cunningham's FB page. It is VILE. Lock his mama up with him - one day in the slammer would be the most time she's ever spent with him.
  hahhaha, very funny! A father and husband is dead and an teenager who did not attend to rob or murder someone is dead....one man, one child, one white, one black....both innocent....still amused??
  I meant "intend" to rob
  Article said: "He's never had any serious offenses before, so there's a level of distress," Sanders said of the 17-year-old."
  My guess is that the deceased "never had" been killed. But he can't come back so why should this kid think things are going to be easier because this is his first killing?
  BTW, standing on the street corner jeering at what is going on across the street from your house isn't going to clean up or change anything. Naïve is the polite term that comes to mind.
  Dont be so smug. Criminals have wheels!
  That picture is terrifying, absolutely terrifying. He looks more like a street hardened 30 year old high on something than a 15 year old.The drug problem incidentally is spreading into the white middle class even some professionals. That has to be dealt with and until it is Memphis will continue to deteriorate.
  Most of the crime in the first areas I mentioned are speeding tickets.
  You are 100% correct. Liberals are the same with illegals. That's why Dems. think it's OK to show an ID to buy a 5th of Mad Dog 20/20 but no ID to vote. Dems. will never come down hard on the criminal element because they want their vote.
  Which party has pushed no ID to vote, more open boarders, felons voting rights and easing prison sentencing? Now the Obama administration has charged HUD with monitoring neighborhood diversity patterns. If your neighborhood doesn't have enough ethnic and racial diversity as defined by the Obama administration, HUD will come in and force diversity on you.
  Which party supports such things?
  The picture here was not in the article when it was posted and it speaks volumes. This is a cultural thing in many communities. A similar picture was posted of Trayvon Martin before the liberal media took it down. Then all we saw were pictures of a 10 year old choir boy. Two weeks before the attack, Martin was caught at school with stolen items and tools used in criminal theft activity. The school did not turn Martin over to authorities because they knew it would raise the crime statistics among AA youth for their school. Martin's mother had been unable to handle him and sent him to live with his father.
  We also know the Obama administration is trying to force local DA's to go easy on crack cocaine convictions because most criminals in this area are AA. We also know the reason AA receive harsher sentences in this area is because they have a previous rap sheet for other crimes. In other words, much like the youths in this article, they are habitual criminals. We also know that whites receive disproportional (a liberal term) harsher punishment for meth than do AA. Be it meth or crack cocaine, all criminals should be locked up for a long time.
  STOP THE POLITICAL CORRECTNESS AND PUNISH ALL CRIMINALS.
  Stop the liberal politically correct nonsense and making excuses. America better start listening to people like Walter E. Williams and Thomas Sowell instead of the stupidity from Al Sharpton. If the crime detailed below had not been covered up for PC reasons, America would not have been put through what it went through last summer.
  "The drug problem incidentally is spreading into the white middle class even some professionals."
  Spreading into the white middle class? As a member of the white middle class I'd like to point out that we have been consuming the majority of the drugs for as long as this country has had a large white middle class.
  IgnatiusJReilly writes:
  in response to contrarian:
  It is sickening to hear all the political blame in this tragic murder!We are on the edge of a disaster created by politics right now that could be worse than 2008 so take those comments else where. My comment is: why has Memphis not followed New York City in its fight against crime? I am so disappointed in our Mayor for not making this a priority! Seeing the names of this killers friends on Facebook tells you a lot about this culture. One is named "Cee Murda Plaiid" then(Cold Bklooded) what ever that means. No telling how many babies have come from these thugs. There has got to be a way to stop babies from having babies. It is multiplying crime faster than we can handle it!
  One kids dad died recently and his aunt and uncle were in court for him. Think this one has any parent's to make a comment?
  Absolutely 100% corrrect
  And they also have the greenbelts, Overton Park and the newly remodeled Kroger in Poplar Plaza
  Mommies yes, sperm donors yes, daddies no
  reasy writes:
  True, its ignorance...ignorance that has been passed down from his mother, from her family, to their family..generational ignorance. No way his mother didnt have a clue or insight of the reckless posts via his FB page, none, zero. Trap or Die University, ...really?