3 children, 1 adult injured in shooting on I-240, MPD says | News

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Four children and a man were seriously injured after a shooting on Interstate 240 led to a citywide chase Tuesday, police said.

According to the Memphis Police Department (MPD), officers responded to a shooting on Interstate 240 at Poplar Avenue in East Memphis shortly before 5:15 p.m. Tuesday.

Officers found an unoccupied Chevrolet Malibu with bullet holes on the highway, police said.

Police then issued a citywide alert for a gray 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander.

Officers followed the vehicle to the 2700 block of North Germantown Parkway in Bartlett, but it refused to stop and took off, police said.

MPD said the suspects in the car shot at tenders in the area of ​​James Road and Highland Street. At one point, a police officer crashed in the 3500 block of James Road in the Raleigh area but was not injured, police added.

The Outlander was then tracked by air to the area of ​​Manhue Drive and Lakeland Drive in Frayser, where it crashed. Police said officers chased the suspects on foot and two people were arrested.

The two suspects were identified as Lorenzo Watson, 18, and Kendrick Ray, 21, police said.

Both were charged with multiple offenses, including six counts of attempted first-degree murder, according to MPD.

Ray was also charged with carjacking and aggravated assault that occurred June 3 at 583 South Parkway East, where a BP gas station is located in South Memphis.

The Outlander used during the police chase was believed to be stolen, police said.

A 30-year-old man, four children – ages 2, 3, 3 and 8 – and an adult were taken to hospital in a private vehicle, all in critical condition, police said. The children were then transferred to Le Bonheur Children's Hospital.

MPD did not say what led to the shooting.

Witnesses FOX13 spoke with were shocked by the chaos that erupted during rush hour Tuesday afternoon.

Johnny Malone, a witness, told FOX13, “We saw the helicopter flying. The next thing we know, the police are coming down the Range Line (road). We go out front and see the car here in the ditch, and then the police and state troopers come from everywhere.”

Malone added: “They jump out of their cars and run behind these houses looking for whoever they're chasing.”