Suspect in Wolfchase Mall Fatal Shooting Makes First Court Appearance
A Memphis courtroom heard new developments Wednesday as 22-year-old Yahir Mejia, the man accused in the fatal shooting inside Wolfchase Galleria Mall, appeared before a judge. Mejia, who previously claimed he acted in self-defense, now faces a murder charge that could carry a decades-long sentence if he is convicted.
His attorney, Brandon Hall—who has represented him in past legal matters—confirmed he will continue to handle the case as Mejia faces charges in the death of Erik Sandoval.
“This case is obviously going to take some time to play out. There’s a lot of video evidence that I haven’t even seen yet,” Hall said, noting that the investigation is still in its early stages.
When asked about a video Mejia reportedly recorded just before turning himself in, Hall acknowledged that it may factor into the case. “He surrendered himself to police. Obviously, it’s not ideal when a client makes comments on video while on the way to turn himself in, but that’s what we have here,” he said.
Mejia has been ordered to return to Judge Bachelor’s courtroom on Monday. Until then, he remains in custody on a $500,000 bond.
Authorities say more information will be released as the case continues to develop.
