What started as an "armed party" at a Hickory Hill apartment complex ended with a brutal tailgate beating, a toolbox gone missing, and three Memphis men headed to court, police said.
Officers were called just after midnight Monday to the 3200 block of Hickory Hill, where they found a man who said he had been punched, kicked, and repeatedly struck in the head with both a glass bottle and a handgun. He was treated for his injuries.
A witness later handed over video that police say shows the victim sitting on the tailgate of a white truck as multiple people walk up. What followed was the attack that investigators say left the man bloodied and sent officers searching the complex for suspects.
Police ultimately arrested three men: James Jones Jr., James Jones Sr. and Tevin Harris. According to WREG, Jones Jr. was booked on two counts of aggravated assault, along with robbery, burglary of a vehicle and theft. Jones Sr. is charged with assault and robbery, while Harris faces counts of assault, robbery, vehicle burglary and theft under $1,000.
Bond was set at $60,000 for Jones Jr., $10,000 for Jones Sr. and $20,000 for Harris. All three men are due in court this week.
Investigators say the witness’s video shows three suspects and an unidentified fourth man walk up to the victim on the truck’s tailgate, where the attack unfolds. Officers reported that the man was hit with both a bottle and a handgun during the altercation.
Police say Harris is accused of taking a toolbox from the victim’s truck before leaving the scene. Jones Jr. was later found and detained inside an apartment, according to the report. Harris has denied any involvement, and Jones Jr. admitted to punching the victim and hitting him with the glass bottle but denied striking him with the handgun or stealing that weapon, investigators said.
Charges And Court Dates
Court filings show Jones Jr. is scheduled to appear Wednesday, while Jones Sr. and Harris are set for court on Tuesday. Per WREG, prosecutors have filed multiple felony counts tied to the reported assault and the alleged theft from the victim’s vehicle. Police have not said whether they expect any additional arrests as the investigation continues.
Hickory Hill Safety Concerns
The late-night violence taps into growing frustration in Hickory Hill, where neighbors and business owners have been sounding the alarm about a run of armed incidents this spring. Surveillance cameras, for better or worse, have become key witnesses.
Earlier this year, Hoodline detailed how a gun-toting crew stormed S-Mart in another Hickory Hill case that rattled locals. In the current investigation, officers are again leaning on video and are asking anyone who might recognize the still-unidentified fourth man from the tailgate attack to come forward.
Police emphasized that the three men now facing charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Memphis CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH (2274).
