Devonte Sherley, a convicted felon now charged with attempted murder after a gunshot left a Nashville man paralyzed, was previously out on bond for felony gun and drug charges when he was implicated in a 2019 fatal robbery. That case did not conclude until last year, and Tennessee records show his resulting eight-year sentence ended just six weeks before the latest shooting.
Sherley, 29, is currently in Davidson County Jail, with Fox 17Â reporting that Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) detectives said he was suspected of entering his sister’s apartment and shooting a man in the neck and knee on August 19.
Davidson County court records suggest Sherley was out on bond for 2016 cases involving drug possession, intent to distribute, and firearm offenses, when in 2019, MNPD said he and another man attempted to rob two people at the Cumberland View apartments, which are managed by the Metro Development and Housing Agency.
Sherley (pictured above) was held in a Davidson County Jail on a $2 million bond while charged with first-degree murder, attempted especially aggravated robbery, aggravated robbery, and resisting arrest, but last September, the case ended with dismissals of the first-degree murder, attempted especially aggravated robbery, and resisting arrest charges.
The case was decided by Davidson County Criminal Court Judge Jennifer Smith, whose term ends in 2030.
While Sherley was sentenced to eight years in a Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) prison for the remaining aggravated robbery charge, his lengthy period of pretrial incarceration may have counted toward his sentence. Tennessee law requires prisoners to serve only 85 percent of their sentence, or as little as 70 percent with certain earned credits, before they become eligible for release.
Tennessee’s Felony Offender Information Lookup (FOIL) states that Sherley’s 8-year sentence began in July 2019, when he was arrested and placed in the Davidson County Jail, and that his period of supervision concluded on July 8.
The sentence end date listed by TDOC suggests his release came just 42 days before Sherley was accused of leaving a man paralyzed following the shooting at his sister’s apartment.
While the Tennessee General Assembly this year passed legislation requiring Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy to explain his office’s decision to dismiss cases, drop or reduce charges, or enter into plea agreements in qualifying cases that originate through the Memphis Safe Task Force, no statute currently exists that would apply specifically to cases that arise in Nashville and are assigned to Davidson County District Attorney Glenn Funk’s office.
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Tom Pappert is a 2025 recipient of the Dao Prize and the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star. He also reports for the Star News Network. Follow Tom on X. Email tips to [email protected].
