Introduction
An armed robbery in the Frayser area of Memphis escalated into an officer-involved shooting and a police chase on Monday evening. The incident, which was captured on surveillance video, has resulted in one arrest while two suspects remain at large. Memphis Police Department (MPD) continues to investigate the situation as they search for the remaining suspects.
Details of the Incident
The robbery occurred at the EZ Shop on Frayser Boulevard just before 5 PM. Surveillance footage shows a man in a red shirt standing by a red Honda, engaging in conversation with another individual wearing a navy blue hoodie. The situation quickly turned violent when a man in a white shirt approached the pair with a gun. Within moments, three men, including the one in the white shirt, were seen pointing guns at the head of the victim while a fourth man began searching the victim’s pockets.
As the robbery unfolded, the victim attempted to defend himself. However, the man in the white shirt attempted to fire his weapon at the victim. The suspects then rushed to a white Ford sedan with a partial Tennessee license plate of “BRT” and attempted to flee the scene.
Police Response
A Memphis Police Department squad car was present in the vicinity and witnessed the crime as it unfolded. The officers in the vehicle immediately responded to the situation, engaging in a pursuit of the suspects. The suspects’ vehicle was seen speeding away from the scene, and during the chase, two of the suspects abandoned the car and fled on foot into a nearby neighborhood, approximately a mile and a half from the gas station.
Officer-Involved Shooting
During the pursuit, one of the officers fired a shot at one of the fleeing suspects. It is unclear if the suspect was hit by the gunfire, but the chase continued as police attempted to apprehend the individuals involved.
Apprehension of a Suspect
The pursuit led officers to a home on Mountain Terrace Street, where one of the suspects, identified as 22-year-old Jalen Briggs, was located. The homeowner, who chose to remain anonymous, described the experience as terrifying, especially for her children. She declined to speak on camera but shared that the events of the evening left her feeling unsafe in her own home.
Briggs, who sustained minor injuries during the incident, was taken to the hospital along with the officers involved in the chase. He has since been charged with multiple offenses and is currently being held at 201 Poplar, the county jail in Memphis.
Ongoing Investigation
The two other suspects involved in the robbery and subsequent chase are still at large. Memphis Police are actively searching for these individuals and have urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers at 901-528-CASH. The investigation is ongoing, and police are working to piece together the full sequence of events that led to the armed robbery and the subsequent police response.
Community Reactions
The incident has left residents of the Frayser area shaken. The violence that erupted in broad daylight in their neighborhood has raised concerns about safety and the increasing frequency of such events. One neighbor, who lives across the street from where Briggs was apprehended, expressed her fear and frustration, noting that the neighborhood is becoming increasingly dangerous.
Memphis Police are continuing to patrol the area, and additional security measures may be implemented as the investigation progresses. The police department has assured the community that they are doing everything in their power to locate the remaining suspects and bring them to justice.
Conclusion
The armed robbery in Frayser that escalated into an officer-involved shooting and police chase is a stark reminder of the dangers that law enforcement officers and citizens face daily. With one suspect in custody and two still on the run, the MPD is working tirelessly to ensure that those responsible are apprehended. The incident has left the community on edge, highlighting the ongoing challenges of maintaining safety and security in the area. As the investigation continues, the hope is that justice will be served and that the remaining suspects will be brought to justice.
