University of Memphis student Devin Jefferson, 21, and three other men have been charged with first-degree murder and the aggravated robbery of Taylor Bradford.
The other three men charged are DaeShawn Tate, 21; Victor Trezevant, 21; and Courtney Washington, 22.
Attorney General Bill Gibbons said the state could seek the death penalty in the case.
The Daily Helmsman reported Oct. 3 that Memphis Police were seeking Jefferson for information in the case.
Jefferson was arrested in June for second-degree murder in the death of 18-year-old Jarvis Seaborne, but was later released after the district attorney ruled it a justifiable homicide.
According to a June 25 police report, Jefferson was sitting on a porch in the Summer-National neighborhood when he was approached by Seaborne.
Jefferson said Seaborne was holding a gun. Jefferson then shot Seaborne in the head after he said Seaborne tried to rob him.
Memphis firefighters pronounced Seaborne dead when they found him in the yard in a pool of blood.
Police later found the gun wrapped inside a T-shirt in the home.
Memphis Police Director Larry Godwin said Bradford was targeted because he was carrying a large amount of cash.
"(Bradford) was targeted because of some information that was out there and the fact that they believed he had some cash," Godwin said.
In a statement Monday afternoon, University President Shirley Raines thanked witnesses who came forward with information.
"As we all know, the criminal justice system must still weigh in on the final judgment of this matter, but these arrests do confirm the original belief that this was a targeted attack, and not a random act of violence," Raines said.
Godwin declined to specify what connection the suspects had to Bradford.
Officials said the suspects, one of whom had a felony record, will appear in court today.
Gibbons said that, because the four suspects were acting together, they are considered a gang and will be prosecuted by the Gang and Narcotics Prosecuting Unit.
Gibbons listed three possible sentences for suspects convicted of first-degree murder, including life in prison without parole, life in prison with the possibility of parole after 50 years and the death penalty.
Gibbons said Bradford's family will be consulted when deciding what sentence prosecutors will seek, but stressed that the final decision will be made by the District Attorney's office.
Godwin praised homicide investigators for their role in making the arrests, citing more than 200 witness interviews and analysis of security camera footage as some of their efforts to gain suspect information.
"These arrests are the result of hard work by investigative services, citizen tips and the cooperation of Crime Stoppers," Godwin said.
Last week, the Crime Stoppers award was raised to $7,000 through the Memphis City Council and a private donation. Godwin said an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers aided investigators in making the arrests.
Bruce Harber, director of police services for The U of M, praised the MPD for its hard work.
"This will allow us at The University to get back to what we need to be doing. That's educating our students," Harber said.
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