Memphis, Tennessee — A Shelby County jury took just eight minutes to find Edward “Eddie” Wurl, 53, guilty of first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of musician Blake Rhea, following a trial that included evidence of months of alleged online stalking and an internet search about whether a gun would still work after years without being fired.
Wurl was also convicted of being a convicted felon in possession of a handgun, according to the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office. The verdict followed the November 2024 killing of Rhea, 48, outside Louis Connelly’s Bar in Memphis.
Prosecutors presented Facebook records, an internet search and surveillance footage as evidence during the case. Wurl is scheduled to be sentenced on November 13.
What Happened Outside the Memphis Bar?
The fatal shooting happened on November 6, 2024, in the area of Louis Connelly’s Bar on South Cleveland Street in Memphis. According to prosecutors, Wurl and Rhea were in the area that night before an encounter near Rhea’s vehicle turned deadly.
Surveillance footage outside the bar reportedly captured Wurl following Rhea across the street toward his vehicle. Prosecutors said Wurl was holding an object consistent with a knife behind his back.
The footage then showed Wurl leaning into the open driver’s door and apparently struggling with Rhea.
According to the district attorney’s office, Wurl subsequently backed away and raised his right hand toward Rhea. The video showed several flashes that prosecutors described as consistent with gunfire.
“Wurl then walked away,” the district attorney’s office said in its account of the footage.
Memphis police were called to the area shortly after 1 a.m. Officers found Rhea inside his parked vehicle suffering from gunshot wounds and lacerations. He was pronounced dead.
Prosecutors Pointed to Months of Facebook Activity
One of the significant elements presented during the trial involved Wurl’s alleged online activity before the killing.
According to prosecutors, Facebook records showed repeated visits to Rhea’s profile during the months leading up to the shooting. The district attorney’s office said the records formed part of the evidence supporting the prosecution’s account of the case.
However, authorities have not established publicly whether the two men had a personal relationship or explained the full nature of any connection between them.
The prosecution also highlighted an internet search made on Wurl’s phone approximately one week before the shooting. The search asked: “If I haven’t fired my gun in years will it work?”
Prosecutors presented the search alongside the Facebook records and surveillance footage as part of the evidence against Wurl. The significance of the evidence was considered during the trial, which concluded with guilty verdicts on both charges.
Jury Returns Guilty Verdict in Just Eight Minutes
The jury’s deliberations lasted only eight minutes, according to the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office, before jurors found Wurl guilty of first-degree murder and possession of a handgun by a convicted felon.
The verdict followed the presentation of evidence concerning the events outside the bar, the alleged months of online activity and the search about the firearm.
Wurl took the stand during his trial and was cross-examined by prosecutors. The information provided by the district attorney’s office did not clarify whether the defendant and Rhea had known each other before the incident or what might have led to their encounter.
The conviction marks a significant development in the case, but the next major step will be the sentencing hearing. Wurl is scheduled to return to court on November 13, when the judge is expected to determine his sentence.
Who Was Blake Rhea?
Rhea was a 48-year-old musician whose work and relationships left a lasting impression on fellow musicians in Memphis and beyond. His obituary described him as someone who was “held in the highest esteem by his fellow musicians and bassists in Memphis and far beyond.”
The obituary also remembered his personality, generosity and many roles in the lives of those who knew him.
Rhea’s family and friends described his “contagious smile, inescapable laugh, kindness, and countless talents” as qualities that would be deeply missed.
He was remembered not only as a musician but also as a teacher, coach, son, brother and friend. His obituary concluded that he left behind an example of how to live and a lasting legacy through his work and relationships.
Sentencing Hearing Scheduled for November 13
With the jury’s verdict now returned, attention turns to Wurl’s upcoming sentencing hearing.
The case brought together several strands of evidence, including surveillance footage from the area outside the Memphis bar, records of repeated visits to Rhea’s Facebook page and a search about the functionality of a firearm.
Prosecutors argued their case before the jury, which returned its verdicts after eight minutes of deliberation.
Wurl is scheduled to be sentenced on November 13, according to the district attorney’s office. Further details about the sentence were not included in the information released about the conviction.
What stands out to you most about this case: the Facebook records, the internet search or the surveillance footage presented at trial? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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