MEMPHIS, Tenn — A 19-year-old Memphis man accused of shooting an Uber car while a passenger and stealing the driver’s phone and carjacking a Lyft driver has been arraigned on charges.
Tyrus Earnest was indicted on charges of with attempted carjacking, especially aggravated kidnapping, theft, and employment of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony in an August involving the Uber.
Court records show Earnest was also indicted on charges for an April 24, 2023, incident for carjacking, aggravated robbery, and and employment of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony.
In court on Jan. 2, 2024, he was arraigned in both cases, and a public defender was assigned to the case. He is currently being held in the Shelby County Jail on $150,000 bond.
August 2023 Uber incident
According to the police affidavit, a driver picked up Earnest Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023, about 7:30 p.m. along Pendleton St., near Kimball Ave. The driver told police Earnest began talking on the phone and became hysterical after hearing that his mother had passed.
According to the affidavit, Earnest pointed a gun at the driver’s head, demanding he pull over, then took the driver’s cell phone because he thought he had called police. The affidavit said Earnest then fired a shot through the floorboard of the Uber, a 2019 Tesla, which caused it to “spark and quit.”
The affidavit said Earnest had to get out and walk from there to a residence on Buffalo St., and forced the driver to walk, who was able to get away when no one was home. MPD said in the affidavit that the driver walked to the Austin Peay Station for help.
The driver told police Earnest had also forced him to give up the PIN for his ATM cards, and more than $2,470 was taken between 11:50 p.m. and 2:15 a.m., according to the affidavit.
April 2023 Lyft carjacking
According to the police affidavit in the April incident, a Lyft driver told MPD she picked a man for a ride on April 23, and he pulled a gun on her, demanding she pull over and forcing her to send money ($100) through CashApp. She told officers the man threatened to shoot her if she called police, then forced her out of her 2022 Nissan Kicks, and drove away.
The affidavit said the next day, MPD found the stolen car in the 1100 block of Mississippi. They said officers saw Earnest coming out of the home where the car was found, and asked him who it belonged to. The affidavit said Earnest claimed it was his, and that's when he was arrested. Investigators said the key was in his pocket.
The affidavit said Earnest admitted to ordering the Lyft and pointing a gun at the driver, forcing her to send him money and then taking the vehicle.
