MEMPHIS, Tenn. — An accused carjacking suspect who was shot by a Memphis Police officer in May has been arraigned on related charges, according to court records.
Jairo Ponce, 29, was indicted on charges of aggravated robbery, carjacking, aggravated assault on a first responder, employment of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, and evading arrest in auto.
A previous theft charge from an incident on May 25 just days before the shooting was dismissed in September. According to the affidavit, RING camera video showed a man identified as Ponce walking through a yard with a gun. The affidavit said that same man in the same clothing had just tried to rob a man minutes before the video was taken. The charge was dismissed due to a "lack of prosecution" according to court records.
The shooting involving MPD
MPD said about 2:45 p.m. Tuesday, May 30, 2023, officers responded to a call about a robbery in the 700 block of Eastern Dr. Investigators said the victims were doing yardwork when an armed man, later identified as Ponce, approached their vehicle, a Chevrolet Trailblazer with a utility trailer, according to the affidavit.
The victims told police Ponce got into their Trailblazer and pointed guns at them, demanding they get away from him. The two said Ponce then took off west on Tutwiler Ave.
According to the police affidavit, the victim's were tracking one of their cell phones, and that helped officers locate the vehicle in the area. MPD said when officers spotted the stolen vehicle, Ponce refused to stop and they began a chase.
Investigators said Ponce bailed out in the 800 block of Eastern and fired a shot at an officer, and the officer returned fire, hitting Ponce once. According to the affidavit, he was hit in the thigh.
MPD said no officers injured.
MPD said Ponce was taken to Regional One Hospital in non-critical condition, and charged when he was released.
Previous burglary charge
Police said Ponce was also involved in a burglary case on May 25, 2023, a few days before the shooting.
According to the court affidavit, a victim said he had left his back door unlocked and was is in bedroom when he heard someone else inside the home. The affidavit said the victim went into his living room and saw a man, later identified a Ponce, with a bible. When he told him to leave, the victim said Ponce pointed a gun at him, and when the victim asked a second time, Ponce left.
According to the affidavit, less than two weeks later, an investigating officer watching surveillance video of the home burglary recognized Ponce from the shooting on May 30.