A quiet Monday morning on Poplar Avenue turned violent when, according to police, a Memphis man swung a hammer at two pedestrians near Poplar and High Street, sending one to the hospital and landing himself in jail on an attempted-murder charge.
Officers say that when they pulled up to the scene, the suspect calmly handed over the hammer and was taken into custody on the spot. He was identified by police as 39-year-old Yohan Ortega Hernandez, with a bond later set at $100,000.
According to Action News 5, officers responded around 7:15 a.m. to a call for aggravated assault at Poplar Avenue and High Street. Investigators say Hernandez walked up to a group on the street, demanded a phone, and ordered people to empty their pockets, then started swinging.
The first victim told police Hernandez hit him multiple times in the head and back. A second man who tried to step in was struck several times in the arm and elbow. That second victim was taken to Regional One for treatment, while the first declined medical care at the scene, according to the station.
Police told reporters Hernandez turned over the hammer when officers arrived and later admitted he struck the men because he believed one of their phones contained videos and text messages showing them plotting to hurt him.
Poplar Avenue regulars know it has seen its share of trouble lately. The corridor has been the site of several recent violent incidents, according to the Memphis Police Department, whose public logs list multiple aggravated-assault calls along Poplar this winter. Police have stepped up patrols and recorded a string of early-morning responses in the Midtown and East Memphis stretches of the roadway in recent weeks.
What police say
The first victim told officers Hernandez ran at him shouting, “gimme your phone and empty your pockets,” before swinging the hammer, according to Action News 5. Officers say Hernandez was detained without further incident and booked on multiple felony counts, including attempted first-degree murder and attempted first-degree robbery.
Charges and next steps
Hernandez faces two counts of aggravated assault, attempted first-degree murder, attempted first-degree robbery, and burglary of a vehicle. Court records show the bond was set at $100,000.
Attempted first-degree murder is classified as a Class A felony under Tennessee law (Tennessee Code), a category that carries some of the state’s most serious penalties. No court date was listed in police materials available at the time of reporting.
Memphis police say the case remains under investigation and are asking anyone with information to contact detectives. The department’s website outlines how to submit tips or reach Crime Stoppers for anonymous leads; see the Memphis Police Department for details.
