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Instead of going through trial, man accused in 2017 killing of 2-year-old Laylah Washington agrees to plea deal

Tylan McCray's plea deal will keep him in prison for 35 years.
Credit: Shelby County Jail
Tylan McCray

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Tylan McCray, one of the men accused in the shooting death of two-year-old Laylah Washington in June 2017, will spend 35 years in prison after a plea deal Tuesday morning.

McCray pleaded guilty to three of his original charges and will serve the sentences to those charges in the plea deal at the same time.

In that deal agreed to by McCray and accepted by Shelby County Judge Lee Coffee, McCray will serve that 35-year term concurrently after pleading to three of his original charges.

McCray was set to stand trial starting Tuesday after a jury was seated Monday, but took the plea deal before that trial officially began.

The 25-year-old faced seven charges in connection to Washington's shooting death in the summer of 2017 in Hickory Hill.

Authorities said a dark-colored Chevrolet pulled up beside Laylah's mother’s vehicle, and a man in the rear passenger seat - said to be Tylan McCray - opened fire into the backseat of the car, shooting baby Laylah in the head. 

McCray’s cousin, Brandon McCray, who was said to be the driver of the escape car, was indicted and charged with accessory to murder.

Credit: WATN
Laylah Washington
Credit: WATN
Laylah Washington

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