Location: Outside a bar on South Cleveland Street, Midtown Memphis, Tennessee
Date: November 6, 2024
Convicted: Edward "Eddie" Wurl
Charges: First-degree murder; convicted felon in possession of a handgun
Status: Found guilty on both counts on October 10, 2026; sentencing set for November 13
Blake Rhea, a well-known Memphis bassist and music teacher, was shot and killed outside a bar on South Cleveland Street in Midtown Memphis, Tennessee, in the early hours of November 6, 2024. Almost two years later, a Shelby County jury has found Edward "Eddie" Wurl guilty of first-degree murder in his death, along with a charge of being a convicted felon in possession of a handgun.
The verdict came on Saturday, October 10, 2026. The Shelby County District Attorney's Office said jurors deliberated for about eight minutes before reaching their decision. Sentencing is scheduled for November 13, according to WMC Action News 5. For the many students, bandmates and friends who knew Rhea, the verdict closes the trial phase of a case that shook the city's music community.
Who Was Blake Rhea?
Rhea was a working musician whose influence reached well beyond the stage. He played with Southern Avenue, a Grammy-nominated Memphis band, and spent years teaching and mentoring young players at School of Rock Memphis. Law&Crime reported that he was 48 years old.
After his death, the people around him described a man who gave his time freely to others. School of Rock Memphis said in a statement at the time that "our school has a huge hole now," adding that his legacy "lives on in the students he taught." A parent of one of his students told WMC Action News 5 that he "should be known for mentoring so many students in town." Former bandmate Marcella Simien said he "devoted his life to his craft."
His obituary, published by Canale Funeral Directors and quoted by Law&Crime, described him as "held in the highest esteem by his fellow musicians and bassists in Memphis and far beyond."
What Happened in Midtown Memphis?
Memphis police were called to the area of Louis Connelly's bar on South Cleveland Street shortly after 1 a.m. on Wednesday, November 6, 2024. Officers found Rhea inside his parked vehicle. He had been shot and was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to police accounts reported at the time, surveillance video from the bar showed a man following Rhea out to his car. Investigators identified that man as Edward Wurl, who was 51 at the time and had a previous felony conviction. Police said witnesses told them the two men had argued over a woman, though the full nature of their relationship was not laid out in the reports MotiveX reviewed, and Law&Crime noted it was unclear whether the two men knew each other.
Has Anyone Been Arrested?
Yes. Wurl was arrested soon after the shooting and charged with first-degree murder. WMC Action News 5 reported in November 2024 that he was due in court that Friday, November 8. The case then moved through the Shelby County criminal courts for nearly two years before reaching trial in October 2026.
What Prosecutors Showed the Jury
Chief prosecutor Atina Stavropoulos and Assistant District Attorney Missy Branham tried the case for the Shelby County District Attorney's Office. The office said the evidence in the case ran to at least 18,000 items.
Prosecutors relied on three main kinds of evidence, according to the DA's office and news reports:
- Surveillance video. Footage that prosecutors said showed Wurl following Rhea across the street to his vehicle moments before the shooting.
- Phone records. About a week before the killing, prosecutors said, a search on Wurl's phone asked: "If I haven't fired my gun in years will it work?"
- Social media activity. Facebook records showed repeated visits to Rhea's profile in the months leading up to his death, prosecutors said.
Wurl took the stand in his own defense and was cross-examined by Branham. The jury returned guilty verdicts on both counts after less than ten minutes of deliberation.
What Happens Next
Wurl now awaits sentencing, which WMC Action News 5 and Law&Crime reported is set for November 13. The DA's office has not publicly said what sentence it will seek. MotiveX will update this case when the sentence is handed down.
Timeline of the Blake Rhea Case
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Months before Nov. 2024 | Facebook records later showed repeated visits to Rhea's profile from Wurl, prosecutors said. |
| About one week before Nov. 6, 2024 | A search about whether an unused gun would still work was made on Wurl's phone, according to prosecutors. |
| Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024 | Police are called to South Cleveland Street shortly after 1 a.m.; Blake Rhea is found shot in his vehicle and pronounced dead. |
| November 2024 | Edward Wurl, then 51, is arrested and charged with first-degree murder. |
| Friday, Nov. 8, 2024 | Wurl is scheduled for a court appearance, WMC Action News 5 reported. |
| October 2026 | Wurl goes on trial in Shelby County and testifies in his own defense. |
| Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026 | Jury finds Wurl guilty of first-degree murder and felon in possession of a handgun after about eight minutes of deliberation. |
| Friday, Nov. 13, 2026 | Scheduled sentencing hearing. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was found guilty of killing Blake Rhea?
Edward "Eddie" Wurl, 53, was found guilty by a Shelby County jury of first-degree murder and of being a convicted felon in possession of a handgun.
How long did the jury deliberate?
The Shelby County District Attorney's Office said the jury deliberated for about eight minutes, and news outlets reported it was under ten minutes.
Where and when was Blake Rhea killed?
He was killed shortly after 1 a.m. on November 6, 2024, outside Louis Connelly's bar on South Cleveland Street in Midtown Memphis.
When will Edward Wurl be sentenced?
Sentencing is scheduled for November 13, 2026, according to WMC Action News 5 and Law&Crime.
MotiveX covers cases like this in documentary form on YouTube.
Comments
Post a Comment