A 16-year-old girl was shot after allegedly attempting a carjacking in Whitehaven early Wednesday morning, then wound up facing charges herself once she was treated and released from the hospital. Police say she now faces counts of attempted carjacking, theft of a stolen firearm, and unlawful possession of a weapon.
According to WREG.com, Memphis police officers were called to a shooting in the 1900 block of Colfax Avenue just before 8:50 a.m. Wednesday. Officers arrived to find the injured teen at the scene and took her to the hospital, where she was listed in non-critical condition before eventually being treated and released.
Once she was out of the hospital, police charged the teen with attempted carjacking, theft of property valued at $1,000, and unlawful possession of a weapon, the station reports. The firearm tied to the theft charge was identified as stolen, though police have not detailed how the shooting itself unfolded.
Investigation Still Open, Police Seeking Tips
The investigation remains ongoing, and police have asked the public for any information that could help piece together exactly what happened on Colfax Avenue. Anyone with details is asked to contact Crimestoppers at 901-528-CASH. The outlet notes it will update its report as more information becomes available.
The case lands in Whitehaven, part of Memphis.
What the Charges Could Mean Under Tennessee Law
Because the suspect is only 16, her case currently sits in juvenile court, but Tennessee law gives prosecutors room to push it elsewhere. Under T.C.A. § 37-1-134, juveniles aged 14 to 16 charged with violent offenses, including carjacking or attempted carjacking, are legally eligible for transfer to adult criminal court following a judicial transfer hearing, according to Justia Law. In Shelby County specifically, prosecutors petition the juvenile court for adult transfers based on probable cause, prior delinquent history, and community protection needs, per the Shelby County District Attorney's Office.
If the case were ever moved to adult court, the stakes would rise sharply. Tennessee codifies carjacking under T.C.A. § 39-13-404 as a Class B felony, carrying prison sentences of 8 to 30 years and fines up to $25,000 for adult convictions, Justia Law notes. The theft charge tied to the stolen firearm would be graded separately — Tennessee law treats theft of property valued between $1,000 and $2,500, or theft of any firearm worth under $2,500, as a Class E felony carrying sentences between 1 and 6 years.
Separately, unlawful possession of a handgun by a minor under 18 is classified as a delinquent act that carries a mandatory driver's license suspension under T.C.A. § 39-17-1319, according to PowerDMS. Should the case escalate to adult criminal court down the line, Tennessee sentencing law also eliminates early parole eligibility for carjacking convictions, per the Tennessee Bar Association.
Memphis Crime Trends
Memphis has pursued initiatives targeting violent repeat offenders amid broader crime reductions.
A separate Whitehaven shooting ended in a murder charge. Hoodline reported on the incident, which occurred three days before the Colfax shooting. Earlier in October, police seized guns modified with illegal switches during other Memphis carjacking arrests. In June, a Memphis teen was sentenced to 15 years for a carjacking carried out in Southaven, underscoring how severely Mid-South courts have treated similar cases involving young offenders.
For now, the Colfax Avenue case remains under investigation, with no word yet on whether Shelby County prosecutors will seek to move the 16-year-old's case into adult court.
