Hunched over and gripping both sides of the podium Thursday in Hamilton County Criminal Court, the prosecutor asked the police officer a question.
“The defendant in this case, Jeremy Reynolds,” prosecutor Kevin Brown began. “Is he a validated gang member?”
“Yes, he is,” said Officer Curtis Penney, with the Chattanooga Police Department.
The third day of Reynolds’ murder trial veered in a new direction after prosecutors introduced evidence of his participation in the Gangster Disciples.
Gang violence has dominated citywide conversation since April 10, when 22-year-old Robert Jackson was shot to death while leaving the Sky Zoo nightclub. His killing ignited a wave of retaliatory violence, police say, which reached a fever pitch earlier this week when a 17-year-old was killed in a drive-by attack, two pregnant women were shot and nearly died, and a third pregnant woman was stabbed. Police weren’t sure if a Thursday shooting on Highway 58 was gang-motivated.