Armed security guard charged with shooting, killing roommate’s boyfriend
MEMPHIS, Tenn. July 15, 2025– A man was arrested and charged with murder after he allegedly shot his roommate’s boyfriend, killing him, after the woman was attacked in a domestic violence incident, records show.
Court documents state that Tajee Turnage, 27, was charged with first-degree murder in a shooting that happened early Sunday morning near railroad tracks on Southern Avenue in Memphis.
Investigators alleged in a police affidavit that Turnage killed Timothy Echols, Jr. during a shootout.
The report says that Turnage is an armed security guard. He told investigators that he was working at New Horizon Apartments in Whitehaven when he got a video call from his roommate. On separate calls, he told investigators, he saw Echols punch his roommate in the face and heard gunshots in the background.
The roommate later told investigators that she was trying to get away from her boyfriend when he opened fire at her while she was in her Chevrolet Tahoe. The gunfire struck her vehicle and it later died out, records show.
Turnage later showed up at Southern Avenue and Prescott Street and parked near an apartment complex, records show. He told investigators that he saw Echols leaving in a car and that was when Echols pointed a gun at him.
Turnage “wasn’t sure” if Echols fired shots at him but he shot at Echols’ car as it was turning to leave the complex, court records allege. Documents state Echols then fell to the ground, and Turnage later saw a black handgun belonging to him inside Echols’ car.
Records indicate that Echols was found near the railroad tracks with multiple gunshot wounds. He was rushed to Regional One Health in critical condition but later died, records show.
In the police report, investigators said they obtained surveillance of the shooting. Turnage is due in court on Wednesday.
