SHELBY COUNTY, Tenn. — A Shelby County jury has convicted Jimmari Sykes of second-degree murder in the 2023 shooting death of Jonathan Farris, delivering another major violent-crime conviction for Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy’s office.

The guilty verdict was returned Saturday following a weeklong trial in Shelby County Criminal Court. Associate Deputy District Attorney Monica Timmerman and Assistant District Attorney Shaun Schielke prosecuted the case for the State of Tennessee.

Sykes was charged in connection with the Oct. 8, 2023, shooting outside 1740 Germantown Parkway.

Memphis Police officers responded at approximately 1:50 a.m. after receiving reports of a shooting in the parking lot. Officers found Farris suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to Regional One Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Investigators determined the shooting happened as the parking lot became crowded after a nearby club closed for the night. Witnesses provided information to police, and investigators later identified Sykes as a suspect in the deadly shooting.

Multiple witnesses identified Sykes in photographic lineups during the investigation, according to prosecutors. He was subsequently arrested and charged with second-degree murder.

The conviction underscores the District Attorney’s Office’s continued focus on holding people accountable for serious violent offenses. While public debate around crime and criminal justice policies continues across Memphis and Shelby County, Mulroy’s office has emphasized pursuing strong cases against those accused of homicide and other violent crimes.

“This verdict reflects the work of investigators, prosecutors and witnesses who helped bring accountability in a fatal shooting,” the case outcome shows.

Second-degree murder in Tennessee is a serious felony offense that can carry a substantial prison sentence. A sentencing date for Sykes has not yet been announced.