08-04-2025
Man gets 20 years for murder of Rhodes College student
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Rainess Holmes was sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty Monday to second-degree murder in the 2021 shooting death of Rhodes College student Andrew 'Drew' Rainer.
Rainer, 22, was killed when several men kicked in the front door of a house in the 700 block of North McLean and demanded electronics and other valuables. Rainer's girlfriend and roommates were also inside.
According to court documents, the robbers demanded the password to Andrew's iPad, and when they didn't get it, they shot Andrew in the chest and also shot his girlfriend in the hand.
Drew's aunt, Missy Rainer, told WREG that Drew and the gunman fought over the weapon.
'Through his actions that early morning, he probably saved the lives of his girlfriend and his roommates who were also in the house,' Rainer said.
The Shelby County District said Holmes, 39, was one of four men who entered the home that night, but he was not the shooter.
Holmes was indicted on felony counts of premeditated first-degree murder, murder in the perpetration of a robbery, especially aggravated burglary, especially aggravated kidnapping, aggravated robbery, and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
The DA's office said Holmes also entered guilty pleas in three separate aggravated burglary cases, receiving 3 years on each of those counts, to run concurrently. His total effective sentence is 20 years at 100%.
The district attorney's office said it worked very closely with the victim's family throughout the process, and they were present in court and supportive of the outcome.
Holmes is the only person who has been charged in the deadly shooting.
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