MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The men accused of shooting up a car filled with children during a road rage incident on I-240 earlier this month, appeared before a judge Thursday morning.
As an advocate for her children, Brittney Ireland also sat in the courtroom while the judge decided the next court date for the two suspects Lorenzo Watson and Kendrick Ray.
4 kids, 1 adult shot on I-240; 2 detained after chase with shots fired
“I’m going to be here every court date,” Ireland said.
Memphis Police say the 18 and 21-year-old are responsible for shooting Ireland’s children and their father.
Court documents say Ray and Watson were in the vehicle that the shots came from. However, reports do not specify who fired the weapon.
Road rage blamed for I-240 shooting that hurt 4 kids, dad
Defense Attorney Brandon Hall for one of the suspects says he’s hoping the hearing will show that Ray was not the shooter.
“They’ll bring forth their victims. The state will bring them forward and they will have to make an attempt at making out the identification of who they believe the shooter was, who was in the vehicle, and who they can identify at all. I think that that will show that Mr. Ray was not involved in the shooting,” Hall said.
WREG tried speaking to Watson’s attorney after court, but she declined to comment.
Since the shooting, Ireland says she’s had to quit working to care for her children.
“They’re home but they’re miserable. It’s a lot,” she said. “We’re waking up at two and three in the morning. I’m dealing with trauma. Kids thinking somebody’s going to shoot them.”
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The prosecutor couldn’t go into detail on what evidence they have to show who fired the weapon, but he says they will not stop fighting for justice.
“We’re going to do the best we can to find justice for our victims,” said Gavin Smith, Prosecutor.
The duo is set to appear in court on July 17 for a preliminary hearing.
Ray currently has two other pending cases – one for gun possession and another for a carjacking incident. His preliminary hearing for the carjacking will also happen on July 17.
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