Car Owner Indicted in Shooting of Teen

April 9, 2021 – A Cordova man has been indicted on second-degree murder charges in the shooting death of a teen who he said was breaking into his vehicle last year, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.

A grand jury indicted 23-year-old Alfred Kirkham III in the incident that occurred the evening of Oct. 12, 2020, outside his apartment on Arbor Bend Lane in Cordova. He is free on $150,000 bond.

Investigators said Kirkham told them he saw Eric Key, 15, breaking into his vehicle and that he confronted the teen and fired shots when he thought Key was reaching for a weapon in his waistband.

Key then fled and Kirkham chased him, firing more shots. Key was pronounced dead at the scene. No weapon was found on the teen.

The case is being handled by Asst. Dist. Atty. Robert Steele of the District Attorney’s Vertical Team 4 which handles cases in General Sessions Division 12 and in Criminal Court Division 4.