Whitehaven Man Convicted of Second-Degree Murder in 2022 Shooting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Shelby County, TN – A Whitehaven man was found guilty of Second-Degree Murder on Friday in the death of a woman whose body was discovered beneath his truck in a strip mall parking lot.

Christian Pitts, a convicted felon, was also found guilty of being a felon in possession of a handgun. The verdict follows a week-long trial in which multiple witnesses testified against him.

On January 22, 2022, Memphis Police responded to a report of gunfire near Winchester Road and South Mendenhall. Upon arrival, officers found 34-year-old Vonnie Payne deceased and partially underneath an unoccupied white pickup truck registered to Pitts. Payne had been shot more than a dozen times.

Witness testimony and evidence presented during the trial tied Pitts to the scene of the crime. A witness reported seeing the suspect, leading to Pitts' arrest less than a mile away from the location of the shooting.

The Shelby County DA’s Office commends law enforcement and all parties involved in securing justice for Vonnie Payne. Sentencing for Christian Pitts will be scheduled at a later date.

Chief Prosecutor Theresa McCusker and ADA Atina Stavropolous tried the case.