Star Staff Reports
Alongside a growing epidemic of gun violence is another crisis in the U.S.: an estimated 6,000 cold case homicides are added to the national total each year.
Experts estimate there are a quarter million cold case homicides in total in this country based on the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report. There are countless other cold case rapes and violent assaults.
This is why many metropolitan police forces — Memphis Police Department included — have formed Cold Case Bureaus to try to solve more of these older crimes. And the move has worked in many cities, although the number of cold cases is daunting.
What’s more, the experts say that criminals who get away with violent crimes often are repeat offenders.
CrimeStoppers of Memphis and Shelby County is helping the local police in this cause. We not only post a Crime of the Week (some are cold cases) to bring attention to specific crimes, we also have developed a new website to aid investigators. The site — memphiscoldcases.com — spotlights various cold cases in the hopes that witnesses or other citizens with information will call a tip to CrimeStoppers or contact the Cold Case Bureau directly.
Two cases were added to the site just this week.
Remember: in virtually all crimes, someone somewhere knows something that can help police make an arrest.
CrimeStoppers tips solve nine murders since award maximum rose to $2,000
CrimeStoppers tipsters helped authorities capture two murder fugitives and identified the suspects in another murder in October. So far in 2021 tips have aided in solving 15 murder cases, nine since cash awards went up to $2,000.
One deadly crime occurred September 30, 2021 at the Rooster Market, 2898 Perkins Road near Cottonwood in southeast Memphis.
A man was confronted outside the store by two teens. One pulled a gun and demanded money. The would-be robbery victim tried to fight them when one teen started firing the gun, striking and killing the victim.
On October 1 CrimeStoppers was contacted by a tipster. The person’s information suggested that Jaylon Jordan and Jamal Minor were responsible for the slaying and they lived on Julia Lane.
The two, both juveniles, were arrested and soon police charged them with first degree murder and especially aggravated attempted robbery. They were held without bond.
The amount approved for payment to the tipster by our Awards Committee: $2,000.
Donations of any size are welcome. Checks made out to CrimeStoppers may be sent to our offices at 600 Jefferson Avenue, Suite 451, Memphis, 38105, or visit our website to make a secure donation now.
CrimeStoppers awarded citizens nearly $10,000 in cases brought to the Board of Directors for the month of October.
A total of 18 successful tips resulted in 19 arrests, 16 cases closed and helped solve three homicides in the city. The 18 awards amounted to $9,550, including $2,000 for a tipster who identified two in a slaying and provided their whereabouts. Two other tipsters won awards for helping police find homicide fugitives.
So far in 2021 $68,750 cash awards have been paid to 127 citizens whose information helped police make arrests.
