Cops: Teenagers shot romantic rival in legs

Two teens are due in court Wednesday on charges they sought revenge against a 16-year-old romantic rival by shooting him in both legs as he tried to run.

Prosecutors plan to urge a Shelby County Juvenile Court judge to transfer the 17-year-old suspects to adult court on charges of criminal attempt to com- mit first-degree murder for the Feb. 2 drive-by shooting at about 11 p.m. on a Saturday night.

The duo became upset earlier after spotting victim Jeremiah Mayes f lirting with their girlfriends. They pulled out a handgun and showed it to Mayes while cursing.

The duo soon returned in a gold Buick Century, firing about nine shots near 2574 Malone. The car then sped off.

I nvestigators

l ater brought the teens to the Memphis Police Department for lineups.

Mayes identified both of the older teens, pointing to one as the driver and the other as the shooter hanging out the passenger-side window, according to police affidavits.

One teen passenger, the one the victim said had a handgun, confessed to police that he fired the shots, investigators said in court records.

The driver pointed a handgun at the teen during the initial confrontation, police allege.

The 17-year-olds were charged on Feb. 27 with less serious aggravated assault. Five days layer, police upgraded the charges.

In an unrelated case Wednesday, attorneys for a 17-year-old are expected to lobby for the teen’s release pending trial for reckless homicide in the March 22 unintentional shooting death of friend Cordaryas JaMond Moody, 17.