MEMPHIS, Tenn. — In light of the recent attack at an East Memphis Kroger, District Attorney General Amy Weirich spoke about deadly force against juveniles at a press conference Tuesday.
“It is a concern, of course, when things like this happen. That is a natural reaction from the public, ‘What rights do I have?'” Weirich said.
Weirich said Tennessee law allows people to use deadly force to protect themselves or others if their lives are at risk.
She said that issue is not cut and dry, as the country has seen in several highly publicized incidents.
Saturday night, a large group of juveniles attacked three people and vandalized a fourth person’s car outside Kroger.
Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong said the problems began when two groups of young women got into an argument at a Cici’s Pizza located in the same complex.
Stevie Moore with the Freedom from Unnecessary Negatives Youth Center said Saturday’s juveniles could have gotten themselves hurt too.
“Those kids’ lives were in jeopardy also. Somebody could’ve gotten out there and shot one of those kids, killed one of them, and they doing it as a prank,” Moore said.
Police have arrested and charged ten juveniles and a 19-year-old so far.