Man charged with murder after saying he killed in self-defense

A man was arrested Thursday after providing authorities with false information after he shot and killed another man, police said.

Darrell Thurman, 24, is charged with second-degree murder, employing a firearm in commission of a dangerous felony and false reporting.

According to the Memphis Police Department, officers responded to a call on Armistead Avenue about 10:15 a.m., where they located Xavier Wilson, 20, with gunshot wound in Thurman’s front yard. He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he later died.

Thurman told officers he fired the shot in self-defense and called 911 after Wilson attempted to rob him while he was fixing his front door, according to an affidavit. While on the scene, officers received a call from Juwan Barksdale who said he was present when Thurman shot Wilson in the back “for no reason”. Shundra Craig, the suspect’s pregnant girlfriend, was also at the residence.

Thurman, Barksdale and Craig were taken in for further questioning, where Thurman admitted to shooting Wilson and making up the story about the robbery attempt, according to the affidavit.

Police said Thurman was scared of Wilson and thought he was there to hurt him even though he was not armed. The suspect added that he blanked out and was seeing visions indicating the victim was going to harm him.