MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A 15-year-old suspect injured after being shot by a Memphis Police officer following a police chase has now been charged with aggravated assault and more.
At around 5 p.m. Friday, July 26, 2024, MPD officers said they found a reportedly stolen vehicle at S. Goodlett and Arrowhead Rd. The car drove away and officers chased it until it stopped at the Marathon gas station on 4835 Winchester, police said.
Officers approached the car and three suspects ran away, MPD said. All three were juveniles.
Two juveniles were taken into custody immediately while the third suspect, who had a handgun, kept running, police said.
The situation escalated and an officer shot at the suspect, who was 15, for reasons still under investigation, according to MPD. The officer immediately gave the teenager first aid and used a tourniquet, police said.
Whether or not the suspect fired shots toward the officer is under investigation, MPD said.
The juvenile was taken to Le Bonheur in non-critical condition, and the vehicle was confirmed by police to be stolen. On Wednesday, July 31, police said he remains in custody at Le Bonheur Hospital, but has now been charged with aggravated assault, theft of property $10,000-$60,000, and evading arrest on foot.
MPD officials previously said the juvenile that was shot was 14-years-old, but said on Saturday that was preliminary information and it had been determined he is 15.
Two other 15-year-olds were charged with theft of property $2,500-$10,000 and evading arrest on foot.
Memphis resident Everett Cooper told ABC24 at the scene that he feels like some people are getting numb to the seemingly constant violence in the city.
“It’s just crazy how this ain’t even the first time this has happened in my city," Cooper said. "And ain’t nobody should be comfortable going, ‘Oh this is Memphis, this always what happens.’ Nah bro, cause at the same time, you can always say, ‘That’s Memphis and stuff,’ but then you got people that’re trying to raise kids in this same environment.”
Memphis father Don Kenny, who also lives nearby, said it feels like everyone has a gun and nowhere around him feels safe.
“There was another gunshot over there on the next street that didn’t even have nothing to do with (this shooting) but both of them happened simultaneously," Kenny said. "So mane, I keep my kids in the house, we stay out of the way. I ain’t trying to get in nobody’s face, I don’t know what’s going on.”