MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Five boys and girls, ages 12 to 16, have been arrested and charged in a weekend crime spree that led to a police chase in Memphis.
The Shelby County District Attorney General said they plan to ask the court to transfer the case against one of the boys to adult court.
MPD officers said the group was responsible for at least seven crimes over the course of a few hours late Friday night (Nov. 1, 2024) and early Saturday morning (Nov. 2).
Investigators said the spree began just before 10:15 p.m. Friday night when a man was walking near Patterson St. and Mynders Ave. He told officers he was walking when several people approached, and one of the suspects pointed a gun at him and demanded what was in his pockets. Investigators said the thieves got the man’s phone, debit card, and ID before taking off in a dark-colored sedan.
Minutes later, officers responded to a report at East High School about a black Kia Soul stolen about 7:25 p.m. from the school parking lot.
Just after 10:20 p.m., officers responded to a robbery in the 4000 block of Bayliss Ave. A man told investigators a Kia Soul had pulled into the driveway behind his car and three suspects approached. He said they tapped on the window with a handgun then went through the victim’s car before taking his wallet and taking off.
About an hour later, just before 11:30 p.m., MPD responded to a robbery in the 2400 block of Madison Ave. A man said he was walking when a dark-colored sedan sped toward him and a passenger in the back got out with a gun, taking his wallet. The suspects then took off.
Two minutes later at 11:27 p.m., officers responded to a robbery in the 3600 block of Mynders Ave. A man told officers a black Kia Soul had pulled in front of his vehicle and several people jumped out and approached him. He told investigators one of the suspects pulled a gun, opened his car door, and demanded his wallet. They took cash, a phone, the car key, and a gold ring.
Eleven minutes after that at 11:40 p.m., officers responded to a robbery at Houston Street and Spottswood Avenue. A man walking in the area told officers a black Kia stopped next to him. The man said two suspects got out and one pointed a gun at him. Investigators said the man was assaulted, and the thieves went through his pants, taking his cash.
Twenty minutes later at midnight, MPD officers responded to an assault in the 3800 block of Minden Rd. The victim said about 10 p.m. she pulled into her driveway when an armed suspect approached and pulled on her car door. She told investigators that she drove away, and the suspect fired shots at her. Police said she was not hurt, but they found bullet holes in her vehicle.
MPD said while its investigators were working on all the previous crimes, the Kia Soul was spotted near Poplar Ave. and Cooper St. They said the officers tried to conduct a traffic stop and the driver took off, starting a chase.
Investigators said the driver stopped in the 500 block of Prescott and five suspects took off running from the car. MPD said Tennessee Highway Patrol brought in a helicopter, and all five suspects were taken into custody.
- A 16-year-old boy was charged with aggravated assault, aggravated robbery, evading arrest in an automobile, evading arrest on foot, reckless driving, and theft of property $2,500-$10,000.
- A 14-year-old boy was charged with aggravated assault, aggravated robbery, evading arrest on foot, and theft of property $2,500-$10,000.
- A 14-year-old girl was charged with evading arrest on foot, and theft of property $2,500-$10,000.
- A 13-year-old girl was charged with evading arrest on foot, and theft of property $2,500-$10,000.
- A 12-year-old girl was charged with evading arrest on foot, and theft of property $2,500-$10,000.
On Nov. 6, Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy said his office planned to seek to transfer the case against one of the boys to adult court.
