What began as a Sunday afternoon drive in Memphis ended with an elderly man in the hospital and two younger men in custody after an alleged road-rage showdown at an AutoZone, according to police. Investigators say the encounter involved a possible racial remark and are still sorting out how a traffic dispute spiraled into a violent confrontation that left the older driver with multiple broken ribs and a punctured lung.
Memphis police say officers were called just before 3 p.m. to the AutoZone on South Third Street near East Belz Boulevard after reports of a disturbance in the parking lot. According to the department, the trouble started near Horn Lake Road, where two men, later identified as Gary Martin and Marquel Porter, got into a road-rage exchange with the elderly driver.
Police say Porter followed the man to the AutoZone, where the situation boiled over. The men told officers the victim had first rear-ended their vehicle, then pulled alongside and hit their car again before everyone pulled into the lot. What happened next left the older driver badly hurt: investigators say he was taken to Regional One with six fractured ribs, a punctured lung, and a cut to his lung. Martin admitted to punching and kicking the man, according to police. Both Martin and Porter were arrested and charged with aggravated abuse of an elderly or vulnerable adult, Action News 5 reported.
What the charge means
Under Tennessee law, aggravated abuse of an elderly or vulnerable adult is a separate offense that can be charged when abuse results in serious physical harm, involves a deadly weapon, or otherwise meets heightened statutory criteria. The law gives prosecutors the option to pursue felony charges with tougher penalties when the victim is older or otherwise especially vulnerable, and it includes added procedural protections for those victims. The statutory language is laid out in Tennessee Code §39-15-511.
Police say the investigation is still active as detectives interview witnesses and review evidence. No additional details about upcoming court dates have been released. For the department’s account of the arrests and injuries, see Action News 5.
