What should have been an ordinary stop at a Hickory Hill McDonald’s turned into a terrifying scene Thursday when, according to police, a Memphis man tried to run over the mother of his child while she held their 1-year-old outside the restaurant on Winchester Road. The confrontation sparked a police pursuit through the area before officers managed to take the driver into custody. Authorities did not immediately release any information about injuries.
Police identified the suspect as Shai Wise. An affidavit alleges he was weaving through traffic, speeding, and making multiple attempts to hit the woman while an 11-year-old was in the car with him. Witnesses told reporters they saw the driver repeatedly try to strike the woman, and a neighbor told a news crew, “it’s sad, you know, and it’s crazy how people can just do that to kids.” The alleged victim was identified as Samareya Payne, details reported by FOX13 Memphis.
Winchester Road has seen similar violence
The chaotic scene outside the fast-food restaurant is not the first vehicle-related attack reported along this stretch of Winchester Road. In March, police said a driver allegedly gunned his SUV toward patrons outside the Crazy Mexican Sports Bar, a case that resulted in attempted murder and other serious charges. That earlier incident and its court filings were detailed in a report on a driver accused of aiming an SUV toward patrons outside the Crazy Mexican Sports Bar, underscoring growing concerns about dangerous run-ins along the busy commercial corridor.
Charges and next steps
Police said Wise was charged with two counts of aggravated assault, domestic assault, and reckless driving. The case remains under investigation, and authorities have asked anyone with information to contact Memphis police, according to FOX13 Memphis.
