Memphis police arrested 20-year-old Corderon-Craft following a deadly crime spree on Sunday, February 11 that left one person dead. Kraft's alleged actions, detailed in an arrest affidavit obtained by FOX13, indicate a series of violent incidents throughout Memphis.
According to the Memphis Police Department, Corderon-Craft is accused of being involved in three shootings and two carjackings that occurred at East Shelby Drive, Pilot Drive, and Commerce Circle during the crime spree.
Courdairon Craft now faces a series of charges, including auto theft, first-degree murder, especially aggravated robbery, two counts of child abuse, willful evasion of arrest in vehicle, and evading arrest. The arrest was made Sunday afternoon after a foot chase as reported by Crime Online.
Specific details surrounding the child abuse charges were not immediately made available.
The Courdairon Craft's violent rampage left one person dead
Courdairon Craft's alleged crime spree, which began around 10 a.m., included carjackings, a shooting and a murder. The crime spree began at Center Chapel Missionary Baptist Church on East Shelby Drive when Kraft robbed a woman and her two children.
After threatening the victim with a gun, Kraft smashed the driver's side window and warned the woman not to call police under threat of harm, as detailed in his arrest affidavit.
The smart woman and her children were able to get out of the car and escape to safety before Kraft sped off eastbound on Shelby Road. Shortly after this incident, gunfire erupted at Zzas' smoke and vape shop on East Shelby Drive, as Fox News reported.
Inside the store, a young man named Yahya Fares was found shot dead, surrounded by several bullet casings. Surveillance footage revealed a masked man wearing dark clothing heading to the store in a blue Nissan Maxima. The attacker proceeded to shoot Faris several times before stealing an AK-style firearm from behind the counter, according to Fox 13 News.
The abandoned Nissan Maxima was later located at ALDI on South Perkins Road, leading investigators to discover that Craft had turned into a silver 2010 Nissan Altima. Attempts to arrest him led to a high-speed chase, during which Craft abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot.
Courdairon Craft's evasion tactics ended when Memphis police arrested him at a residence on Haleville Road, culminating in his arrest around 3:45 p.m. — just a few miles from where the smuggling spree originated as WECT reported.
Courdairon Craft faces multiple charges due to bond revocation
Upon searching a Nissan Altima, officers discovered a Glock 19 9mm rifle, an AK-47 rifle, and merchandise allegedly taken from the smoke shop where Yahya Fares was killed. Corderon Craft reportedly admitted to stealing the two cars and killing Knight in the smoke shop.
Courdairon Craft faces a slew of charges, including first-degree murder, auto theft, especially aggravated robbery, two counts of child abuse, willfully evading arrest in vehicle, and evading arrest. The murder and carjacking at the church are believed to have been random, with the bail recommendation document attributing the motive for the killing to “greed”.
Kraft's criminal record as an adult began in February 2022, including charges of driving a stolen vehicle, possession of a stolen handgun, and marijuana. Although he was released on his own recognizance within 24 hours, drug and weapons charges against Kraft were later dropped, and he was placed in a diversion program for robbery, according to his attorney as reported by FOX 13.
In December 2023, Courdairon Craft faced additional charges of attempted first-degree murder, attempted aggravated robbery, and two felonies with firearms, and was given a $100,000 bond. The Shelby County District Attorney's Office, which credited Kraft's release to a criminal court judge, successfully called for all of his bonds to be revoked, ensuring his continued incarceration.
Corderon-Kraft is scheduled to make his first appearance on the new charges Tuesday at 9 a.m. The district attorney's office confirmed that all of his bonds have been cancelled.
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