Accused Memphis Nightclub Shooter Released With No Bond

Image Credit: SCSO & Google Earth

The Tennessee Conservative Staff –

A man accused of shooting four people outside of a Midtown Memphis restaurant and nightclub earlier this month was released from jail without bond.

30-year-old Detawn Gunn was arrested last week for the shooting that took place at Railgarten on Central Avenue on August 16.

He was charged with five counts of attempted second-degree murder, five counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, and two counts of vandalism of property valued from $1,000 to $2,500. 

Police responded to the shooting and found four victims and two damaged vehicles. Gunn allegedly shot at two men after an argument over a parking space, hitting one of them with what appeared to be birdshot. The other victims were hit while trying to stop Gunn or were innocent bystanders.

One of the victims followed Gunn after he got into a gray Lexus and took note of the license plate number before Gunn also fired shots at him.

Police found later that the tag number had been used on several different vehicles. Gunn told officers that he was a mechanic and swapped the tag out among his various cars but claimed it was never used on a Lexus.

District Attorney Steve Mulroy says a request was made by his office for a $500,000 bond for Gunn.

Mulroy released a statement saying, “We’re disappointed. In arguing against a bond reduction, we presented victim testimony, video of the shooting, and photos of the victims’ injuries… Going forward, we’re confident we’ll be able to prove our case and see that the defendant is held accountable for his actions.”

State Senator Brent Taylor (R-Memphis-District 31) is also speaking out, criticizing the move by the Shelby County judicial system to release Gunn.

“I will be getting to the bottom of why this person was released on his own recognizance and why my new law prioritizing safety of the community was not applied correctly,” Taylor posted on X. “It is outrageous to think someone who gets into an argument and then shoots multiple people is not also a threat to our community’s safety if released on little-to-no bail.”

Yesterday, Taylor posted a follow-up on X that stated:

UPDATE: After news broke that Judge Anderson released Defendant Detawn Gunn who is charged with five counts of attempted second degree murder, I released a statement saying I would get to the bottom of Judge Anderson’s misguided decision. In furtherance of that promise, I requested two things via letter to DA Mulroy and the Board of Judicial Conduct:

1. DA Mulroy file a Writ of Certiorari in Criminal Court to correct this injustice

2. The Board of Judicial Conduct review whether Judge Anderson’s public animus toward Tennessee’s bail system (for which he has already been reprimanded) contributed towards his misapplication of the new law prioritizing safety of the community when setting bail and take appropriate disciplinary action.

To #MakeMemphisMatter, we must have aggressive prosecutors requesting high bail for violent criminals and judges who correctly apply the new law prioritizing safety of the community when setting bail.

Taylor also posted a copies of the letters he sent to Mulroy and the Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct HERE.