An early-morning car repossession on Macon Road turned into gunfire Wednesday when a Memphis woman allegedly shot a tow-truck driver who was taking her vehicle, according to police. Officers say the driver was hit in the shoulder, managed to drive away from the scene, and later received treatment at a hospital, where he was listed in non-critical condition. The woman, identified by authorities as Iysha Chapman, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault. Her bond was set at $150,000, and she is scheduled to appear in court on Friday.
Police: Argument Erupts Before Single Shot
Memphis police responded just before 4 a.m. to the intersection of Macon Road and Highland, where, according to an affidavit, Chapman confronted the tow operator who was in the process of repossessing a 2015 Lincoln. Investigators say Chapman refused to hand over the keys and told the workers, "you all will have to drag it." The affidavit states she then threatened, "I will kill you" before firing a single shot that struck the driver in the shoulder, according to Action News 5.
Driver Flees To Safety As Suspect Taken Into Custody
After being shot, the tow-truck driver sped away from the scene and was later transported to a hospital, where police say he was treated in non-critical condition. Chapman was taken into custody following the investigation and now faces a felony aggravated assault charge. Her bond has been set at $150,000, and she is expected in court on Friday, according to Action News 5. Police have not released additional information about the firearm involved or whether any other individuals were part of the confrontation.
Violent Repo Clashes Not Unique To Memphis
Authorities say tensions during vehicle repossessions can boil over into violence in other cities as well. In Detroit, a woman who opened fire on a tow-truck driver during a repossession later received a sentence after entering a plea on related charges, according to ClickOnDetroit. Investigators in Jacksonville recently tied another repossession dispute to the shooting death of a tow-truck driver, an incident that led to an arrest in connection with the case, according to Action News Jax.
What An Aggravated Assault Charge Means In Tennessee
Chapman is charged with aggravated assault, a felony offense in Tennessee that can cover assaults involving a deadly weapon or incidents that cause serious bodily injury. Tennessee Code § 39-13-102 lays out the legal elements of aggravated assault and how the crime is classified, with possible penalties that depend on how severe the harm is and the defendant’s prior criminal record, according to Justia.
