A juvenile is fighting for life after a violent crash in Southwest Memphis on Tuesday evening, according to authorities. Officers arrived to find a wrecked vehicle and an injured juvenile, who was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. It was not immediately clear whether the victim had been shot, and a woman at the scene was taken to the hospital for an unrelated medical issue.
According to Action News 5, the Memphis Police Department said the 5:05 p.m. call initially came in as a crash on Pawnee Avenue. When officers got there, they found a vehicle with damage consistent with gunfire and located the injured juvenile. MPD told the station it remains unclear whether the victim was actually shot, and no suspect information has been released.
Scene and response
The crash unfolded on Pawnee Avenue, a residential street near West Raines Road and Weaver Road, turning a regular late afternoon into a taped-off crime scene. The incident comes as the city has reported substantial year-to-date drops in major crimes, according to reporting on MPD figures by the Daily Memphian.
While the investigation into this crash is just getting started, Pawnee Avenue has been on law enforcement radar before. A U.S. Marshals Service press release notes a juvenile arrest in the 800 block of Pawnee earlier this year as part of the Memphis Safe Task Force’s work.
Investigation ongoing
MPD told Action News 5 that detectives are investigating the crash and have not released suspect details or a possible motive. The minor was rushed to the hospital and remains in critical condition, the station reported.
The Memphis Police Department’s news postings advise anyone with information to contact CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH, according to the Memphis Police Department. Investigators have not released suspect information, and the case remains under active investigation.
