Robber: Targeted Victim Who Was On Crutches

     Oct. 6, 2021 – A defendant who dropped his cellphone while running away from a man on crutches he had just robbed was convicted by a jury Tuesday, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.

     Savanno Richards, 29, was convicted of robbery and will be sentenced Oct. 29 by Criminal Court Judge Bobby Carter.

    The incident occurred around 8 a.m. on Aug. 14, 2019, at 4653 Forest Oak Way in Parkway Village just outside the apartment of the victim who had just returned from taking his daughter to school.

   The 39-year-old victim identified Richards as the man who pushed him up against a wall, pointed a gun at him and ordered him to empty his pockets. He said he gave Richards his wallet with $20 inside and that as Richards ran off he dropped his cell phone.

   Richards was identified and arrested two weeks later. He testified that he targeted the victim because he was on crutches, but denied using a gun.

   The case was handled by Senior Felony Asst. Neil Umsted and Felony Asst. Regina Thompson of the District Attorney’s Vertical Team 3 that prosecutes cases in General Sessions Division 11 and Criminal Court Division 3.