Man charged in shooting of music engineer
The Memphis music community is reeling following news that recording engineer Elijah Mitchell Lewis was shot during an assault in Cordova on Saturday. Lewis remains at Regional One Health in critical, but stable, condition.
According to online Shelby County court records, Glenn Smith, 32, has been charged with aggravated burglary, attempted second-degree mur- der, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony in connection with the shooting. He is currently in custody.
Elijah Mitchell is the oldest son of Lawrence “Boo”
Mitchell, Grammy-winning engineer and producer who runs Royal Studios, the South Memphis recording facility that’s the historic home of Hi Records and Willie Mitchell. Elijah Mitchell Lewis also worked as an engineer at Royal and was part of a new generation of Mitchells – along with his brother, rapper Uriah Mitchell – continuing the family’s musical tradition.
According to a Memphis Police Department affidavit, police found Lewis after responding to a shooting at a residence at 1510 Beaver Trail Drive in Cordova, belonging to Samantha Wilson – who, according to the Mitchell family, was Lewis’ girlfriend.
In a statement to police, Wilson said she and Lewis arrived at her home in the early morning hours of Aug. 15, when she saw the blinds in her front room move. “She believed someone was in the house so Lewis went in with her to check. Wilson was in the living room while Lewis went to check the spare room,” according to the police affidavit.
Wilson then “heard a shot” and ran to a neighbor’s house to call 911. While waiting for police to arrive, Wilson allegedly observed Smith, who she referred to as “a friend,” emerge from the home and the leave. Police arrived and found Lewis had been shot in the back.
Based on information from Wilson, police later apprehended Smith getting out of his Ford Mustang, at Quail Covey Drive and Quail Ridge Trail. Police said Smith was transported to a General Investigation Bureau location where he waived his rights and spoke to investigators for two hours.
According to police, Smith said that “(two) months ago he changed the locks at Wilson’s house and kept a set of spare keys that she was unaware of,” and late Friday night “went to Wilson’s home without her permission and let himself in and stayed in the spare room waiting for her to come home.”
The report says Smith told police that at “about 5 a.m. (Wilson) was still not home and Smith went and retrieved the gun that Wilson had from her dresser and went back to the guest room.” Smith allegedly said when Lewis and Wilson got to the house he hid behind the door of the spare room.
Police say Smith claimed Lewis was also armed, and upon discovering Smith hiding in the spare room was “surprised and fired a shot. Smith fired a shot from Wilson’s gun and they both fell to the ground. Smith tried to take Lewis’ gun and kicked him several times until he let go of the gun. Smith then fled the scene with both weapons.”
According to the statement, before being apprehended by police, Smith shed the clothes he was wearing at home, and ditched Wilson’s house keys out of the window of his car while driving on I-240 near Walnut Grove. According to the report, both guns were stashed inside Smith’s Mustang. Memphis Police have not released any further information on the case.
In a Facebook post late Sunday, Boo Mitchell updated Elijah Mitchell Lewis’ condition. “Unfortunately the bullet went through his spinal cord and he has lost all of the feeling in his legs ...” wrote Mitchell. “We are grateful and thankful that Elijah is Alive. We have a lot of work ahead of us. This is the most devastating that has ever happened to me or my family.”
Mitchell also thanked the “amazing” team of doctors and nurses at Regional One Health, noting that “they have been nothing less than angels through this.” He asked his friends keep, “Elijah and my family in your thoughts and prayers. We know that God is in charge and we are praying and hopeful that one day he will fully recover.”