MEMPHIS, TN — Three men are charged with first-degree murder after a Saturday morning shooting in Orange Mound that left 19-year-old Jeremy Birdsong dead, according to Memphis police. Investigators say Birdsong was brought to Methodist University Hospital in a Nissan Altima and was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

The Facts

• What: Three men were arrested and charged with first-degree murder after a fatal shooting.
• Where: The shooting happened in the 700 block of Carson Street in Memphis’ Orange Mound neighborhood.
• When: Police responded around 3:30 a.m. Saturday; Birdsong was pronounced dead at 4:47 a.m.
• Who: Kylon Tremell Young, 19; Kaleb Clark, 20; and Zachary Clark, 20; the victim was Jeremy Birdsong, 19.
• Charges: All three men are charged with first-degree murder, Memphis police said.
• Status: They are expected to appear in court Monday.

What police say

Memphis police said officers were sent to Methodist University Hospital after Birdsong was taken there by the suspects in a Nissan Altima. He had suffered a gunshot wound to the back of the head.

At the scene on Carson Street, officers found a large pool of blood, handgun shell casings and rifle shell casings, according to police. Investigators also reported damage and bullet marks on the outside of the home.

Police said the group went to the home with the intent of shooting it up. According to investigators, everyone was armed when Kaleb Clark and an unidentified man got out and fired shots at the house.

Police also said Kaleb Clark later claimed his cousin may have stepped in front of one of the shooters and been hit accidentally. He later suggested the unidentified man may have fired the fatal shot.

The investigation

Investigators have not said whether additional charges are possible or whether anyone else is being sought. The case appears to center on the shooting at the home and the sequence of events that followed after Birdsong was taken to the hospital.

When police respond to a shooting, they typically try to match witness statements, physical evidence and any video or forensic evidence with the timeline of the incident. Shell casings, blood evidence and damage to the property can help reconstruct where people were standing and how the shooting unfolded.

Anyone with information in a homicide investigation is generally urged to contact local detectives or CrimeStoppers. Memphis police did not include a tip line in the information provided about this case.

What the charges mean

First-degree murder is the most serious homicide charge in Tennessee. It generally means prosecutors believe the killing was intentional, premeditated or happened during certain serious felonies recognized under state law.

At this stage, a charge is an accusation, not a conviction. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until prosecutors prove the case in court. The next steps usually include an initial court appearance, appointment or retention of counsel, and later hearings on bond, evidence and trial scheduling.

If a case moves forward, prosecutors must present enough evidence to support the charge at each stage of the process. Defense lawyers can challenge identification, intent, statements and the weight of the physical evidence.

What happens next

Young, both Clarks and any defense attorneys are expected to appear in court Monday. That hearing should provide the first formal look at the case after the arrests.

Further developments could include bond decisions, additional charging review or more detail from investigators as the case moves through the criminal court system.

Have information on a crime? Contact local police or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).