MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) – A Tennessee jury on Tuesday convicted a man of fatally shooting a restaurant customer, and then running over and killing a police officer during a high-speed chase in Memphis’ downtown, prosecutors said.
A judge sentenced Justin Welch to life in prison without parole after he was found guilty of first-degree murder, the Shelby County district attorney’s office said.
Welch also was convicted of charges including vehicular homicide, attempted first-degree murder and evading arrest in an automobile. Sentencing on those charges is scheduled Sept. 23.
Welch had stolen a car before he shot Joshua Walton, 39, outside a restaurant in the North Main area of Memphis’ downtown on June 4, 2016. Walton died 13 months later.
Welch shot a second restaurant customer, who survived. Welch then went to the nearby Bass Pro Shops at the Memphis Pyramid, where he shot a Bass Pro employee, who also survived.
Welch then drove at high speed toward the busy Beale Street tourist area, leading police on a chase. He was driving the wrong way down Third Street when he hit Memphis police Sgt. Verdell Smith, who was clearing people from the area. Smith died of his injuries.
Welch then crashed the stolen car and was arrested.