MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Shelby County Grand Jury has indicted a man charged after Memphis Police said two people were shot when two suspects stole a car from a South Memphis gas station in early April.
Tony Whitaker was indicted Aug. 22 on charges of aggravated burglary, aggravated assault, theft, and evading arrest. In court April 23, 2024, Whitaker's bond was reduced from $100,000 to $15,000. He remains in the Shelby County jail.
Charges of domestic violence in a previous incident were dismissed for "lack of prosecution" on April 19, according to court records.
MPD officers responded to the shooting about 12:15 a.m. Tuesday, April 2, 2024, in the 500 block of S. Parkway E, near S. Lauderdale St.
Investigators said a man told them he had parked his black 2016 Dodge Journey at a gas pump and left it running while he ran inside. According to the police report, when he returned outside, he saw a man in all black in his SUV driving off. He told officers the suspect stopped in front of him and fired shots, hitting him in the leg.
Investigators said a woman who was inside the store saw a man outside firing shots at the door from a vehicle, and she was hit in the leg.
Police said both victims were taken to the hospital in non-critical condition.
Police said the suspect who took off in the SUV was with another suspect in an older-model blue Dodge Charger with a license plate that did not match the vehicle.
Later that day, a woman called Memphis Police and said she found her stolen 2016 Dodge Journey, according to the affidavit. Officers took the driver and a man — later identified as Whitaker — into custody. The driver was not listed in the Shelby County Jail database.
Whitaker was also found with a handgun that had been stolen on Feb. 11, 2024.
The affidavit said he confessed to the shooting and auto theft that happened on April 2. Whitaker admitted that he stole the handgun as well, according to the court records.
