Milan Defendant Convicted in 2016 Murder

TRENTON, Tenn. - June 30, 2022 – A Milan, Tenn., man was convicted Wednesday in a 2016 home-invasion shooting in which a man was killed and his girlfriend was shot 11 times and critically injured, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Amy Weirich whose office was appointed to prosecute the case.

Uel Pearson, 40, was convicted on counts of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and employment of a firearm in the commission of a dangerous felony.

Circuit Court Judge Clayburn Peeples automatically sentenced Pearson to life in prison for the murder.

The crime occurred in the early-morning hours of Oct. 11, 2016, when Pearson and a codefendant forced their way into a home in Milan and shot Rontavious McKinley, 22, and his girlfriend multiple times.

McKinley was pronounced dead at the scene. His girlfriend survived, but has had to undergo multiple surgeries for her many gunshot wounds.

Pearson had been at the home earlier visiting with his girlfriend who also lived there, but he and McKinley got into a heated argument before he left. He and his codefendant had their faces covered when they attacked the couple.

Codefendant Lillo Harrell, 34, pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He also received additional time for violation of probation.

The case was prosecuted by Shelby County Asst. Dist. Attys. Chris Lareau and Brad Reasonover who were appointed by the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference.

Dist. Atty. Gen. Frederick Agee of the 28th Judicial District that includes Milan took office in 2020. He recused himself from the case because of a conflict.