MEMPHIS, Tenn. — On Wednesday, the Shelby County District Attorney's Office announced the grand jury will hear the case against the suspects in a road rage shooting that left four children and their father hospitalized.
Suspects Lorenzo Watson and Kendrick Ray had their preliminary hearing in General Sessions 13 on Wednesday, according to the D.A.'s Office.
Officials said after weeks of preparation by the state and testimony from nine witnesses, including the father of the young children, Judge Montesi found probable cause to proceed with charges against Watson and Ray.
Thee charges include, among others, six counts of criminal attempt – first degree murder.
The June 11 shooting left a three 3-year-olds and an eight-year-old along with their father injured.
The Memphis Police Department responded to the shooting just after 5 p.m. at I-240 West near Poplar Avenue, where officers found an empty Chevrolet Malibu on the interstate with bullet holes. They were then told that five people had been taken by a private vehicle to the Baptist East hospital, all in critical condition.
The four children were transferred to Le Bonheur Children's Hospital. Their father, 30, was treated at Regional One Health and later released the same day, hospital officials said.
Around 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, officers found the suspect vehicle, a 2022 gray Mitsubishi Outlander, at 2700 North Germantown Parkway and began a pursuit. During the chase, the suspect fired gunshots at police in the area of James Rd. and North Highland, where one MPD officer had a wreck, according to Memphis Police. The officer was uninjured.
"Aviation continued to track the vehicle until it crashed in a ditch on Bethune Road, and both suspects fled on foot," MPD officials said. "After a foot pursuit, both were taken into custody."
Police discovered the Outlander had been stolen June 9, 2024, from the 2900 block of Palm Street.
Law enforcement had arrested 21-year-old Kendrick Ray multiple times prior the shooting. He is a prime suspect in a separate case on June 3, when a woman was carjacked at a BP gas station, according to the affidavit.
However, he's also facing felony charges from last summer for possession of an illegal weapon, a modified Glock. In that case, he was booked and released on a $500 dollar bond. Those charges were still pending at the time of Tuesday's incident.
"The judicial commissioner set a $500 bond without involving their office. Ray agreed to plead guilty as charged to those charges…his case was set for July 23,” The Shelby County District Attorney’s office said in a statement.