LaToshia Daniels, a woman convicted of fatally shooting a Memphis pastor after their affair ended, was sentenced on February 24 to 20 years in prison. Daniels, 34, was convicted in November 2025 of the second-degree murder of pastor Brad Perry, who was killed in his Collierville, Tennessee, apartment in 2019. He was also sentenced to 11 months and 29 days for reckless endangerment. Both sentences will go together.
Daniels was originally charged with first-degree murder, but a jury found him guilty of second-degree murder. He was acquitted of a separate firearms charge. Prosecutors said that after her relationship with Perry ended, Daniels moved from Arkansas to Tennessee, where he shot and killed her, with his wife also injured during the attack.
During his sentencing, Daniels expressed deep remorse for his actions. Daniels addressed Perry’s family in court, saying, “To Tabatha, I am so sorry. It was never my intention to hurt you, and I pray that you all will forgive me.” He apologized for the pain he had caused, acknowledging that nothing could compensate for the damage done, but stressed his “godly sorrow” for the tragedy.
Shelby County Prosecutor Kevin McAlpin, who had sought a first-degree murder conviction, said he was satisfied with the sentence, noting that while prosecutors had hoped for a more severe outcome, the sentence nevertheless brought justice to the victims. “We’re pleased to get some justice for the victims,” McAlpin said after the hearing. He said the Perry family is coping “as well as can be expected.”
Daniels’ defense attorneys argued that she was experiencing a mental health crisis at the time of the shooting, pointing to her criminal history and lack of rehabilitation efforts. He requested the minimum sentence, but Judge J. Thomas Scoggins rejected his argument that a “broken heart” justified murder. The judge said, “A broken heart does not justify someone dying,” emphasizing that Daniels’ actions were deliberate and serious.
Daniels will receive credit for time served in jail, but his lawyers have indicated they will appeal the verdict. As the legal process progresses, the Perry family and the community must grapple with the consequences of the tragic loss, as the consequences of Daniels’ actions play out in the courtroom.