Fourth suspect arrested in University of Memphis Bradford killing

By Karyn Chenoweth Oct 10, 2007, 13:58 GMT

Taylor Bradford was the target of a fatal shooting near the campus Sunday night, 30 September 2007, according to the university security officials. Officials said Bradford was shot near a university housing complex, got into his car and drove a short distance where he crashed into a tree. Bradford was taken to a local hospital where he later died. EPA/UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS /

A fourth man was charged Tuesday with murder in the shooting death of University of Memphis football player Taylor Bradford, Memphis police said.

CNN reports that Devin Jefferson, 21, planned the armed robbery of Bradford because he thought the football player was carrying a large amount of cash, police said.

Officials at the 21,000-student school said football player Taylor Bradford, was a popular marketing major who lived on campus, and was transferred from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, and was only 36 credit hours short of graduation.

Fourth suspect Devon Jefferson was described as the "brain trust" in the planning of the crime.

"He was the one that got the information that Taylor had cash," Sgt. Vince Higgins said. "Taylor and Jefferson knew each other. They had a girlfriend in common so there was some history there."

Police investigating a car crash on September 30 found Bradford, 21, fatally wounded near the campus residence hall area.

He had apparently gotten into his car after he was shot and drove a short distance before crashing into a tree.

The 5-foot-11, 300-pound defensive lineman from Nashville was taken to Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

DaeShawn Tate, 21, Victor Trezevant, 21, and Courtney Washington, 22, have been charged with murder in perpetration of attempted aggravated robbery, Memphis Police Department Director Larry Godwin said Monday.

"It was an attempted robbery, aggravated robbery," he said. "He [Bradford] was targeted because of some information that was out there and the fact that they believed he had some cash, or he had something that they wanted."