By Brian Lazenby
Staff Writer
A U.S. Magistrate Court judge today ruled that probable cause exists for the arrest and detention of a man authorities claim was involved in a series of gang-related shootings that resulted in two men killed in public housing areas.
Michael Lebron Branham is charged in federal court with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Neff said he likely will present evidence in the case to the grand jury when it meets on Tuesday.
Federal authorities said they will continue to evaluate the incidents surrounding the June 13 shooting death of 26-year-old Adrian Patton and the retaliation shooting three days later of 24-year-old Jermaine Southers to determine if four men, a woman and a juvenile could face federal charges.
Michael Daniels, 20; Darius Sneed, 25; Federico Brock, 24; and Delicia Woodruff, 30, each are charged in Hamilton County Criminal Court with first-degree murder and criminal conspiracy to commit murder in the June 13 shooting in Emma Wheeler Homes.
Mr. Daniels also is charged with illegal possession of a firearm.
A 17-year-old boy also was charged in Juvenile Court in connection with that shooting. He is not identified here in accordance with Chattanooga Times Free Press policy.
Quanan Hutchinson, 20, is charged in Criminal Court in the Friday shooting death Mr. Southers in East Lake Courts.
Mr. Neff said authorities are under no timeline to decide if they will be charged federally.
E-mail Brian Lazenby at blazenby@timesfreepress.com
See tomorrow's Chattanooga Times Free Press for full coverage.
Staff Writer
A U.S. Magistrate Court judge today ruled that probable cause exists for the arrest and detention of a man authorities claim was involved in a series of gang-related shootings that resulted in two men killed in public housing areas.
Michael Lebron Branham is charged in federal court with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Neff said he likely will present evidence in the case to the grand jury when it meets on Tuesday.
Federal authorities said they will continue to evaluate the incidents surrounding the June 13 shooting death of 26-year-old Adrian Patton and the retaliation shooting three days later of 24-year-old Jermaine Southers to determine if four men, a woman and a juvenile could face federal charges.
Michael Daniels, 20; Darius Sneed, 25; Federico Brock, 24; and Delicia Woodruff, 30, each are charged in Hamilton County Criminal Court with first-degree murder and criminal conspiracy to commit murder in the June 13 shooting in Emma Wheeler Homes.
Mr. Daniels also is charged with illegal possession of a firearm.
A 17-year-old boy also was charged in Juvenile Court in connection with that shooting. He is not identified here in accordance with Chattanooga Times Free Press policy.
Quanan Hutchinson, 20, is charged in Criminal Court in the Friday shooting death Mr. Southers in East Lake Courts.
Mr. Neff said authorities are under no timeline to decide if they will be charged federally.
E-mail Brian Lazenby at blazenby@timesfreepress.com
See tomorrow's Chattanooga Times Free Press for full coverage.
