MEMPHIS, TN – Shelby County District Attorney Bill Gibbons announced Wednesday that the state Grand Jury for Shelby County had indicted a woman who allegedly used her infant child as bait to target good samaritans in two separate armed robberies, one in which the victim was shot in the back.

The Grand Jury indicted Shani Butler, 21, for attempted first degree murder and especially aggravated robbery for an incident on March 12, 2007, and for aggravated robbery for an incident one day prior.
According to the allegations in the affidavit of complaint filed in this case, on March 11, 2007, a female victim was approached in the parking lot of a Frayser drug store by another woman who asked for a ride for herself and her infant child. The victim agreed and while driving, the passenger ordered the victim at gunpoint to hand over her purse. The passenger took the victim’s purse, and then she and her infant fled the scene.

The next day, according to the affidavit of complaint, a second female victim was approached in the same manner by a woman carrying an infant child in the parking lot of an East Memphis drug store. The victim agreed to give the woman and her child a ride. While driving, the passenger pulled out a gun and ordered the victim to drive to the nearest ATM. When the victim tried to escape near the intersection of Hollywood and Sam Cooper Boulevard, she was shot in the back. Shortly after the incident, police arrested a woman who was spotted driving the victim’s car. 

Butler is being held in the Shelby County Jail on $500,000 bond.

Attempted first degree murder and especially aggravated robbery are Class A felonies, which carry a standard sentence of 15-25 years in prison. Aggravated robbery is a Class B felony, which carries a standard sentence of 8-12 years in prison. These are charges covered by the D.A.’s “No Deals” policy on violent crimes. Exceptions to the policy are made for legal or ethical reasons.