Controversy erupts after release of Railgarten shooting suspect

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Shelby County District Attorney’s Office says it has filed an emergency request for another court to review the case of a Memphis man released from jail without paying bond.

30-year-old Detawn Gunn is accused of shooting at least four people outside of Railgarten , a Midtown restaurant, earlier this month. But Monday, following his bond hearing, he was released on his own recognizance.

This comes after his initial bond was set at $500,000 by a judicial commissioner. The District Attorney requested to keep that bond amount, and Gunn’s attorney asked for the bond to be reduced to $75,000.

But, Gunn was still able to leave jail without paying anything.

“I’m glad he’s out,” said Joe Gunn, Detawn’s father.

Joe Gunn talked to us about his son, who is accused of shooting multiple people after a fight over a parking space outside Railgarten.

He says he relies on his son to take him to dialysis appointments.

“He go to the store with me, buy me food, stuff like that,” said Joe. “He takes care of me. I turned 75-years-old, so I’m glad he’s out.”

He says he is standing by his son’s innocence.

There are plenty of others making their voices heard following Gunn’s release.

Corey Coleman says he was shot by Gunn. We spoke to him last week when he showed us his extensive injuries.

“Shots in the rib, the back, stomach. I got staples all the way across. Whole back ate up here and the back of the head,” said Coleman.

On Wednesday, we briefly talked to him by phone about the release, as he said he’s in excruciating pain.

He told us he is “really confused” and he “doesn’t feel safe” and is trying to get back to Texas where he permanently lives.

Lawmakers are also sharing concerns.

Tennessee State Senator Brent Taylor wrote letters to District Attorney Steve Mulroy and Disciplinary Counsel Marshall Davidson for the board of Judicial conduct saying he wanted to make Davidson aware of the circumstances surrounding Gunn’s release.

He also said that Judge Bill Anderson, who made the decision, violated a new state law requiring the safety of the community to be the first consideration of bail.

We also spoke with Judge Anderson today, who told us he cannot comment on pending cases, but encouraged us to request the audio from the bond hearing to understand why he made the decision he did.

WREG has filed a “Freedom of Information Act” request for the audio from the hearing.

A date does not appear to have been set yet on the D.A.’s request to have another court review the case. We will keep you updated as we learn more.

We also looked into Gunn’s criminal history. Beyond driving infractions, court records show he was arrested in 2016 on drug and weapons charges, but they were dismissed.

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