Three Memphis men have been collectively sentenced to more than a century in prison for a crime spree that lasted several months.
Between May 2012 and January 2013, brothers Devonta and Deshun Hampton, and friend Matthew Tyler, committed robberies, burglaries, and assaults in the area of Kimball and Cherry Road.
In the early morning hours of May 24th, 2012, Deshun and Tyler, both 18, also attempted to murder a security guard and killed a pit bull.
At around 4 a.m., Deshun and Tyler opened fire on a guard sitting in his vehicle in the Cherry Crest Apartments complex. Although he wasn’t struck during the gunfire, the guard’s face was cut from shattered glass.
Deshun and Tyler recorded the incident on a cellphone while taking turns shooting at the guard, according to the Shelby County District Attorney General’s office (SCDAG).
The same day, they also recorded the fatal shooting of a pit bull, which was used for security by a Cherry Road businessman. Deshun reportedly shot the pit bull in the neck before he and Tyler ran away laughing. The dog succumbed to the gunshot two days later.
Last October, both Tyler and Deshun pled guilty to attempted murder of the security guard and murder of the animal, in addition to several other charges, including aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, and aggravated assault.
Tyler, who is already serving an 11-year prison sentence for aggravated robbery, has been sentenced to 66 years for his role in the felony offenses. Deshun has been sentenced to 55 years in prison for his participation in the crimes.
Deshun’s brother, Devonta, 20, has been sentenced to 32 years in prison for his role in eight different felonies, including aggravated robberies, burglaries and employment of a firearm.
According to the SCDAG, at least eight people were victimized during the three culprits’ crime spree. Victims included men, women and children.