Nationwide — Anthony Green, a 24-year-old African American man from Memphis, Tennessee, who was convicted of first-degree murder, walked free from custody due to a paperwork mistake tied to a separate theft charge. Authorities say deputies are now searching for him after his unexpected release.
Court records show Green was found guilty on September 24, 2025, in Shelby County. The conviction stems from a June 2020 shooting in Whitehaven, where 27-year-old Octavious Atkins was killed while sitting in his car. Another man, age 49, was also injured in the attack.
Investigators said Green pulled up in a white Mercedes SUV, opened fire, and then fled. The SUV was later found burned behind a building. Green was eventually arrested months later by a Mississippi Highway Patrolman.
At the time of his trial, Green was also in custody for a theft charge, according to Fox 13 Memphis. Records show he had already posted bond on that case. When the jury convicted him of murder, the jail only had documents reflecting the theft bond, and the new paperwork revoking bond after the guilty verdict had not yet been processed.
Because of that delay, Green was released just 38 minutes after his murder conviction. Normally, a first-degree murder conviction in Tennessee results in a life sentence.
On September 25, a new warrant was issued against Green. The charges include first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Deputies continue to search for him.