Man sentenced to life with parole in killing of Memphis musician

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - A man convicted of killing Memphis musician Blake Rhea was sentenced Friday to life in prison with the possibility of parole, according to court records.

Edward “Eddie” Wurl was sentenced to confinement in the Tennessee Department of Correction. Judge Lee V. Coffee presided over the sentencing.

A Shelby County jury found Wurl guilty in October of first-degree murder and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Jurors deliberated for less than 10 minutes before reaching their verdict.

Rhea was shot and killed Nov. 6, 2024, outside Louis Connelly’s bar on South Cleveland Street.

During the trial, prosecutors showed surveillance video they said captured Wurl following Rhea to his vehicle with an object that appeared to be a knife behind his back. Prosecutors said Wurl shot Rhea in the back of the head.

Investigators also recovered digital evidence from Wurl’s phone. A week before the killing, someone searched, “If I haven’t fired my gun in years will it work?” Wurl also repeatedly visited Rhea’s social media profile in the months leading up to the killing.

Rhea was a member of the Grammy-nominated band Southern Avenue and taught at the School of Rock Memphis. In a 2024 story, former bandmate Marcella Simien said, “The sadness will resonate and will be felt for a long time when you lose someone in this music community that is very supportive of one another.”

Previous coverage: Man found guilty in 2024 killing of Memphis musician Blake Rhea

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