by Tom Pappert
An 18-year-old man accused of first-degree murder for the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old on Thanksgiving was released from a Shelby County jail on his own recognizance Monday, forfeiting zero bond despite allegedly confessing to his role in the crime.
Police said Edio White admitted to driving his co-defendant Conner Tucker, 15, to the Binghampton home of Anthony Mason, also 15, on November 23, under the guise of Tucker trading firearms with Mason, News Channel 3 reported. When the two teens arrived at Mason’s home, police said Tucker exited the vehicle and shot Mason once in the head, killing him.
White (pictured above) and Tucker reportedly admitted they intended to rob Mason, and the outlet reported that in addition to White’s confession to driving the vehicle, Tucker admitted to pulling the trigger.
Despite his alleged role in Mason’s death, White was released on Monday, according to multiple sources citing police records. White is next due in court on December 5.
Both White and Tucker are charged with first-degree murder during the perpetration of a robbery, criminal attempt especially aggravated robbery, and unlawful possession of a weapon, according to the Memphis Police Department.
Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) expressed frustration in response to White’s release in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
“After fatally shooting a 15-year-old in the head, the Memphis man responsible for his death has been released from custody,” wrote Blackburn, adding that White “wasn’t even required to pay bond.”
“Criminals belong behind bars.” She added, “NOT out on the streets.”
Tennessee-based conservative radio and television host Todd Starnes called White a “monster” in a post on X, and wrote that his release is an example of “restorative justice.”
“This is what happens when you have a progressive district attorney.” Starnes added, “Criminals have more rights in Memphis than law-abiding citizens.”
Mason’s murder and the subsequent release of White comes as Memphis struggles with solutions for its increased crime rate that provoked Governor Bill Lee (R) to send the city and county reinforcements from the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
Additionally, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department, the Memphis Police Department (MPD), and Shelby County’s jails are all facing severe shortages in employees.
Earlier this year, it was reported that MPD’s number of officers was down 22.6 percent over the past decade, decreasing from 2,449 officers in 2011 to just 1,895 in 2022, even as the city has continued to grow.
Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner recently told local media his office needs to hire 375 jailers, with the county currently employing just 490 of the 865 it requires. Speaking to Fox 13, Bonner explained that jailers are working “10-hour shifts where officers are working for [days] on on, and three [days] off.”
Bonner also told the outlet his office needs to hire an additional 150 deputies for normal patrol duties.
Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Georgia Star News, The Virginia Star, and the Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to pappert.tom@proton.me.
