On New Year's Eve, a carjacking followed by a shooting and a high-speed pursuit ended with the arrest of three juveniles in Memphis. According to Action News 5, the incident began when a 12-year-old and two 14-year-olds approached a man as he was exiting his Nissan Sentra on Pershing Park Drive near Corning Avenue. The man was reportedly held at gunpoint, and his phone and car were stolen.
Shortly after the carjacking, a separate individual reported to Memphis police that shots were fired at them from the stolen Nissan around the South Parkway and Riverside Boulevard area, FOX13 Memphis reported. The suspects fled the scene and, upon being located by officers at approximately 3:00 p.m. near Vance Avenue and South Lauderdale Street, a vehicular chase ensued. The pursuit concluded near Kansas Street and Goodloe Avenue, where a foot chase ultimately led to their arrest. A handgun was also found in the area.
The minors have been charged with aggravated robbery, carjacking, use of a firearm during a dangerous felony, and other related charges. Specifically, one of the 14-year-olds faces additional charges of reckless driving and driving without a license. "It's mind-boggling, first of all, for us to even say juveniles are doing these types of crimes," Jimmy Chamber, an investigator with Shelby County Juvenile Courts, told FOX13 Memphis, denoting the gravity of the situation considering their young ages.
These incidents are part of a troubling trend of juvenile-related crimes in the Memphis area. FOX13 Memphis disclosed that there were 399 homicides in 2024, with at least 16 suspects aged 17 or younger. The bond amount set for the suspects has not been disclosed, as reported by WREG News. This incident adds to the array of events challenging communities and law enforcement tasked with navigating and addressing the complexities of youth crime and rehabilitation.
