Man Who Fired Into Group of Teens Indicted on Murder, Other Felony Counts

June 24, 2022 – A 38-year-old man who fired into a group of teens gathered near his porch in February south of Downtown has been indicted on first-degree murder and other felony counts, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.

A grand jury indicted Marcus D. Orr on one murder count, three counts of attempted first-degree murder, three counts of employment of a firearm in the commission of a dangerous felony, and one count of convicted felon with a handgun.

Orr, who was convicted of aggravated assault in 2008, is being held on $150,000 bond in the Shelby County Jail.

The shooting occurred around 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 14, 2022, in the 400 block of Ratliff Lane near South Danny Thomas Boulevard where a small group of teens was gathered near Orr’s porch.

When Orr came out of his apartment he got into an argument with one of the teens. He then pulled a pistol from his waistband and began firing, sending the boys and girls running for cover.

One member of the group, Damien Smith Jr., 15, was struck in the back and collapsed near the sidewalk. He was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. Three others – ages 14, 15, and 17 – escaped uninjured.

The case is being handled by Senior Felony Asst. Danielle McCollum and Asst. Dist. Atty. Regina Lucreziano of the District Attorney’s Vertical Team 1 which prosecutes cases in General Sessions Division 7 (Veteran’s Court) and in Criminal Court Division 1.