Stephen Phillips
Brandon PhillipsNASHVILLE, Tenn. -
Metro detectives early Friday morning charged two brothers with Tuesday night's murder of James William Ray.
Ray, 58, was found fatally shot after his car crashed into a home near the intersection of Westchester Drive and Stilton Drive.
Stephen Phillips, 22, a convicted prostitute who is known to dress as a woman, and his brother, Brandon Phillips, 21, are alleged to have conspired together to rob Ray during which he was fatally wounded.
The investigation shows that Ray and Stephen Phillips were acquainted, and that Ray agreed to pick up Stephen at a Dickerson Pike business Tuesday night.
Brandon Phillips is alleged to have followed in a separate vehicle.
Stephen is alleged to have texted Brandon via cell phone, alerting him that Ray was about to stop at the intersection of Westchester and Stilton Drives.
Brandon is believed to have shot Ray after walking up to the driver's side of Ray's Pontiac Sunfire.
Stephen apparently bailed out of the Sunfire after the shooting and prior to the car striking the home.
The Phillips brothers were each charged with criminal homicide and are being held in the Metro jail in lieu of a $500,000 bond each.
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