A couple shopping for a stove at a Memphis store ended up fighting for their lives on Oct. 18, when a man allegedly pulled a gun on them, struck the husband in the head, and shot him in the arm during a struggle over the weapon. Police say the suspect fled the scene afterward and was later identified and arrested.
According to Action News 5, the incident happened at a shopping center on Riverdale at the intersection of East Shelby Drive. The couple had gone to a store to buy a stove, and as they were leaving, police say 27-year-old Carl Hodges approached them, pointed a handgun in their direction, and demanded the husband's belongings.
Struggle Over the Gun Leaves Husband Wounded
Police say Hodges struck the husband in the head during the confrontation. The husband then grabbed for the gun in an attempt to disarm him, according to the same report. Per the affidavit, Hodges tried to shoot the husband in the stomach but instead shot him in the arm during the struggle before fleeing the scene.
The Memphis Police Department has since arrested and charged Hodges in connection with the robbery. He now faces charges of especially aggravated robbery and attempted reckless homicide, the station's report states.
Case Adds to String of Memphis Gunpoint Robberies
The Riverdale-area robbery echoes other recent gunpoint confrontations reported around Memphis. In December 2025, FOX13 News Memphis reported that employees arriving to open a barbecue restaurant in Cordova were robbed at gunpoint; the robber took cash and a male employee's Buick Encore.
The arrest comes as Memphis has reported broad declines in violent crime this year. The Memphis Police Department said it continued to see significant reductions in crime citywide during the second quarter of 2026. Separately, The Commercial Appeal reported that the city's crime rate may be on track to reach its lowest level in decades.
