Devon and Kenneth Brown receive life sentences for 2010 Fourth of July weekend shooting

Devon and Kenneth Brown receive life sentences for 2010 Fourth of July weekend shooting
By:  Michael G. Lander

On Friday, Nov 16, 2012, Division 7 Criminal Court Judge Lee V. Coffee sentenced brothers Devon and Kenneth Brown to life imprisonment for the 2010 Fourth of July weekend shooting that resulted in the death of 24-year-old, Kimberley Jamerson at 2706 North Meade.

The two brothers had been found guilty, in separate trials, of 13 counts of attempted murder in the first degree, 13 counts of aggravated assault, employing a firearm during a felony, and reckless endangerment.

Kenneth Brown received a life imprisonment sentence of 51 years, with an additional 308 years compounded on top of that for each attempted first degree murder charge.  His brother, Devon, also received life imprisonment with an an additional 246 years.  They both received the maximum prison sentences that they could have received for their crime.

Judge Lee Coffee told the brothers that this was not a war zone and he compared what they did to the senseless killings of innocent people in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"I attended the sentencing hearing for my daughter's murder trial and I was truly saddened, but I did receive some closure on this whole horrible situation," the mother of Jamerson, Willie Brooks-Howze said. 

Brooks-Howze spoke to the two brothers before their sentencing, but she said that both sat with their heads down and that neither had anything to say to her for what they did.

An alleged accomplice, David Richardson, is still awaiting trial for his part in the 2010 Fourth of July weekend shooting.  His trial date has been reset for Mar 18, 2013.

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Foundation Sponsors Run/Walk for the Cure Event

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Foundation Sponsors Run/Walk for the Cure Event
By:  Michael G. Lander

This is a collection of images from the 2012 Ovarian Cancer Awareness Foundation's (OCAF's) "Teal 5K Run or 1 Mile Walk for the Cure"  at Shelby Farms on Saturday, Sept 22, 2012.  Hundreds of feet hit the ground running and walking during this year's event.  Organizers said that there were approximately 800 people who registered for either the walk or run this year.  To view more images of this event, click on this link:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelanders/sets/72157631602520588/

Rhodes Roberts is cutting the ribbon for the Ovarian Cancer Awareness Foundation's (OCAF's) "Teal 5K Run or 1 Mile Walk for the Cure."  Roberts was named the grand marshal for this year's event, which  took place at Shelby Farms on Saturday, Sept 22, 2012.

Runners begin their 5K run for the Ovarian Cancer Awareness Foundation's (OCAF's) "Teal 5K Run for the Cure," at Shelby Farms on Saturday, Sept 22, 2012.  This is the 5th year of this event and there were approximately 800 people who registered for either the walk or run.  This is the greatest number of participants that organizers said that they have had since it began in 2007.

Derek Denton, pictured on the left, is assisted during a 5K run by Robert Hyde.  Denton is visually impaired.  The two men participated, side-by-side, in the Ovarian Cancer Awareness Foundation's (OCAF's) "Teal 5K Run for the Cure," at Shelby Farms on Saturday, Sept 22, 2012.

Dawn Thomas is just about to cross the finish line after her 5K run organized by the Ovarian Cancer Awareness Foundation.  She completed the run after 30 minutes and dedicated her run to her aunt, Karen Lindstrom, who recently died from ovarian cancer.

Carol Rodman, Ovarian Cancer Awareness Foundation (OCAF) President in Memphis, is pictured to the left of her friend, Debbie Ellis, at the foundation's "Teal 5K Run or 1 Mile Walk for the Cure" at Shelby Farms on Saturday, Sept 22, 2012.  Ellis is an original member of the Board of Directors for OCAF.  The foundation is dedicated to raising awareness about ovarian cancer and promoting education about this disease.

Johnny Mason, 49, of Olive Branch, Miss poses for pictures as his family looks on.  Members of his family participated in the Ovarian Cancer Awareness Foundation's (OCAF's) "Teal 5K Run or 1 Mile Walk for the Cure," at Shelby Farms on Saturday, Sept 22, 2012.  Mason's wife, Maxine, is currently battling the disease and could not attend this year's event.

Chuck "Pops" Whitaker is entertaining the crowds with his skills on the bass guitar at the Ovarian Cancer Awareness Foundation's (OCAF's) "Teal 5K Run or 1 Mile Walk for the Cure," at Shelby Farms on Saturday, Sept 22, 2012.  He is a member of the Wolf River Redneck Band that played and kept the crowds rocking to their music throughout this year's event.