A Tennessee man allegedly shot and killed a Memphis store owner after his mother had a physical altercation with him earlier in the day.
Tony Curry, 29, has been charged with first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, and using a firearm with the intent to commit a felony, Shelby County court records show. The charges were announced this week, but the underlying incident took place nearly two months ago, on June 13.
According to a complaint affidavit reviewed by Law&Crime, a fight broke out at Tires Llantas on 4697 Winchester Road in Memphis between a woman and the shop’s owner, Shaton Cobb. It is unclear what caused the disagreement, but the woman “sprayed him with pepper spray, and Mr. Cobb pushed her to the ground.”
Another shop employee described how the disagreement continued after the woman left. A few hours later, “a male came into the tire shop and asked for the owner.” When she pointed at Cobb, the two men began to speak before the suspect pulled out a gun and shot Cobb “several times before turning and shooting” the other employee, according to authorities.
Responding officers pronounced Cobb dead, and the other victim was taken to a nearby hospital after being shot in the legs, according to the affidavit. Investigators spoke with her, and she is said to have quickly identified her attacker.
“When investigators asked if she recognized the male, she said he was the son of the lady who was at the shop earlier and sprayed Mr. Cobb,” the court document reads, adding that the woman provided distinguishing characteristics that matched the son of the woman who was in the shop earlier that day.
When this victim was given a six-person photo lineup at the hospital, “immediately without hesitation she picked out Tony Curry as the person that shot her and Shaton Cobb,” the document concludes.
Curry was previously charged with unlawful possession of a weapon and violating vehicle registration laws, both misdemeanors, according to court records from the summer of 2022.
Curry is being held in Shelby County Jail with no bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for Monday.
