Arraignment Set for Murfreesboro Shooting Defendants
The two suspects will face formal court proceedings in January following a 2026 shooting at a local sports bar.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Crime — General
Ke'Osha Morton and Castella Goodman are scheduled to be arraigned on January 8, 2027, in connection with the fatal shooting of Cierra Alexis Torres. The incident occurred at MJ's Sports Bar & Grill in June 2026.
Why it matters
This case proceeds to arraignment following a grand jury indictment last summer regarding the shooting, which originated from an escalating dispute between individuals. The legal process will now formalize the charges against the two defendants involved.
Ke'Osha Morton faces 3 counts of attempted first-degree murder, while Castella Goodman is charged with the first-degree murder of Cierra Alexis Torres. The case was bound over to a Rutherford County grand jury in August 2026.
The players
Ke'Osha Morton
The 37-year-old defendant is charged with three counts of attempted first-degree murder and was taken into custody in June 2026.
Castella Goodman
The suspect is charged with the first-degree murder of Cierra Alexis Torres and was apprehended following an investigation that spanned Davidson County.
Cierra Alexis Torres
The 27-year-old victim died following a shooting incident that took place at a Murfreesboro sports bar.
The details
Castella Goodman allegedly opened fire on a pickup truck while Cierra Alexis Torres sat in the passenger seat during the incident at MJ's Sports Bar & Grill. Detectives executed search warrants in Davidson County to identify and locate Goodman following the shooting.
Timeline
June 15, 2026: Cierra Alexis Torres died from her injuries.
June 18, 2026: Ke'Osha Morton and Castella Goodman were arrested.
August 2026: The case was bound over to a Rutherford County grand jury.
January 8, 2027: The defendants are scheduled for arraignment.
Legal Context
This arraignment follows the standard Tennessee legal process for first-degree murder indictments, which requires a grand jury to bind over cases prior to trial. Such proceedings reflect the mandatory procedural steps required for felony homicide cases in the state.
Residents in Murfreesboro can anticipate heightened activity near the courthouse during the scheduled January proceedings. The resolution of this case marks a significant step in the local justice system's processing of the 2026 shooting incident.
The takeaway
The upcoming arraignment serves as a reminder of the judicial timeline for felony charges in Rutherford County. The public can follow these court proceedings to track the legal progress of the case against the accused.
What happens next
The defendants are scheduled to appear in court for their arraignment on January 8, 2027.
Further reading
Learn more about local public safety and police activity on the Crime — General section page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WGNSRadio.
