The prosecutor released new information about the man who was beaten to death with a pole

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Shelby County District Attorney’s Office said a court found probable cause for a man accused of beating a friend to death with a bat.

Alfred Draper, 31, is charged with first-degree murder In the death of Shanqualus Morgan. He is being held in the Shelby County Jail on $1.5 million bail.

On Oct. 11, 2023, officers responded to the 1600 block of Rayburn Avenue in South Memphis and found Morgan, 46, unresponsive in a grassy area.

Draper was allegedly seen on security cameras hitting Morgan with his car, chasing her and beating her unconscious with a pole.

At this week’s hearing, a witness said the victim’s head was “bowed down”. The cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma.

Based on witness testimony taken by ADA Alexia Crump, General Sessions Judge Louis Montesi made a finding of probable cause and filed a criminal complaint in the case, District Attorney Steve Mulroy said.

WREG spoke with the victim’s sister in Julyand that he was the one who found his brother unresponsive after a neighbor told him he had been attacked.

Jernise Morgan says Draper and Shanqualus had known each other for years.

“He grew up around my brothers, he knows my brother, he knows them, so for you to be the one to take my brother’s life says a lot about you as a person,” Jernise Morgan said.

Days after the interview aired, Draper was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals at an East Memphis mall near Park Avenue and Getwell Road.

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