Whitehaven Man Indicted on Murder Charges

June 4, 2020 – A 25-year-old man was indicted this week on first-degree murder charges for allegedly shooting an acquaintance in the head while a small group was playing video games last year at a Whitehaven apartment, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.

Investigators said the incident occurred on the evening of Oct. 30, 2019, at the Peppertree Apartments where defendant Cortavious Johnson was with several friends who were gathered around a television at an apartment at 4299 Graceland.

Witness said Johnson, without warning, walked up behind Rafael Grace, 22, pulled a pistol and shot him in the back of the head. Grace was pronounced dead at the scene.

Johnson, who was wanted in a non-fatal shooting from the previous week, was taken into custody about 10 days later.

The case is being handled by Felony Asst. Stacy McEndree of the District Attorney’s Vertical Team 6 which handles cases in General Sessions Division 15 and in Criminal Court Division 10.