Holly MatkinMemphis, TN – A 15-year-old suspect who was shot by police while allegedly trying to flee in a stolen car on Monday morning has been charged with attempted murder.
The series of events leading up to the officer-involved shooting began at approximately 10:40 a.m. on Nov. 21, when a civilian called 911 and reported having seen four people armed with guns getting out of a vehicle near an apartment complex located on Peres Avenue, WMC reported.
The vehicle was described as a gray Dodge Challenger, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI).
Memphis Police Department (MPD) officers responded to the scene and located the vehicle, which was initially unoccupied, WMC reported.
It had been reported as stolen one night prior, according to the TBI.
Police spotted a juvenile male getting behind the wheel of the car at one point and stopped to confront him, WMC reported.
The suspect allegedly attempted to flee in the stolen car during the encounter, and at least one of the officers fired a gun at him, according to the TBI.
Details regarding what transpired just prior to the shooting were not immediately released, WMC reported.
The 15-year-old suspect drove off down Peres Avenue after the officer-involved shooting and ultimately crashed in the area of Boxwood Street and Chelsea Avenue.
Investigators said the teen was suffering from gunshot wounds, according to WHBQ.
He was subsequently rushed to the hospital in critical condition.
The teen remained hospitalized in serious condition, WHBO reported.
The TBI said an MPD officer was also injured during the incident, WMC reported.
The officer was transported to the hospital with non-critical injuries and no further information about the nature of the officer’s injuries or how they occurred was immediately released.
The officer involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave while the investigation is pending, as is protocol for all officer-involved shootings, according to WHBQ.
The suspect has been charged with aggravated assault against a first responder, criminal attempt to commit second-degree murder, and felony evading arrest, WMC reported.
The unidentified teen’s mother, Theresa Clark, reached out to WHBQ and said her son was not armed and that he didn’t deserve to be shot.
“Where is my son?”
Emotions ran high today as @MEM_PoliceDept & @TBInvestigation investigated an officer-involved shooting in North Memphis.
The TBI says a police officer shot a juvenile as he drove away in a stolen car. The teen is in critical condition.
@3onyourside pic.twitter.com/bZB1nXWOG7— Bria Jones WREG (@BriaJonesTV) November 22, 2022
“I’m not condoning nothing he did, but to air the clip out on my baby… My baby is 15,” Clark said. “He shot my son like it was deer hunting season. He didn’t have a gun. He’s not innocent, don’t get me wrong, but it takes a village to raise a kid.”
