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MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Police are looking for three males who tried to carjack a 72-year-old man and then took a car from a 17-year-old at gunpoint in East Memphis.

The teen said he was putting his car in reverse when it happened Saturday afternoon in the 600 block of River View Road.

Police said it started when three men in masks in a white Kia Forte with Mississippi tags tried to carjack the 72-year-old victim, but he told them to go away and refused to give up his keys.

Investigators said the carjackers then went up the street, pointed a gun with an extended magazine at the teen, and told him to give him his keys and wallet.

600 block of River View Road in East Memphis

The 17-year-old gave him the car keys in his pocket and said a third suspect slapped him on the hand. He said all three jumped into his white 2014 Mercedes Benz SLK230 and left.

  • The victim’s 2014 Mercedes Benz SLK230
  • The victim’s 2014 Mercedes Benz SLK230

Police said the Kia Forte the suspects left behind was also stolen.

The young victim said the carjackers also got his wallet and iPhone 14 Pro Max inside his car.

“I just grabbed him and held him as tight as I could and both of us just stood their sobbing because all I could think about was how lucky I am to be holding you right now,” said Tamara Goff, the victim’s mother.

Tamara and Ken Goff say since the incident, their son, a student at Lausanne Collegiate School, has been afraid to drive.

“His coping skills are largely intwined with his car,” Tamara said. “Now he needs to clear his head more than ever and he doesn’t want to drive.”

“He said ‘For the foreseeable future, I want y’all to take me to school again,'” Ken said.

The teen later encountered the 72-year-old man’s family while seeking help. His parents said they are thankful for their quick action.

“The reality is it can happen anywhere and it happened four doors down from where we live,” Tamara said.

“Just like there was random violence, there has been really random and wonderful kindness from people that we didn’t know at all,” Ken said.

The TN tag number for the stolen Mercedes is BNY4468. If you have seen the car or have any information that can help police find the carjackers, call CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH.

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