MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A man is in custody after shots were fired at a Memphis police officer during a chase that ended with a crash in Southaven.
Southaven Police said they were notified about a suspect who carjacked a vehicle and fired shots at a police officer in Memphis. The suspect, identified as Demarcus Chambers, was seen traveling south on Airways Boulevard toward Southaven.
According to MPD Sgt. Louis Brownlee, Chambers pointed a gun at a man who flagged down an officer for help as Chambers took off in his black truck.
We’re told Chambers hit vehicles at two other locations before crashing into a car and a pole. He eventually ran across the street to carjack a woman, shooting at police in the process.
The woman, who does not want to share her identity, said she pulled up to the Valero gas station in the airport area and almost immediately heard gunshots ring out.
“I heard the bullets going and then I saw him, he came in the front of my car hiding, just trying to get away from the police officer. And then he came on my side and I jumped out of my car and laid down on the ground because of the flying bullets. And then he jumped into my car and took off,” she said.
According to police, Chambers then drove her car toward Mississippi. Southaven police officers found Chambers on Goodman Road. When they attempted to stop him, he fled north on Interstate 55.
They were able to stop him on I-55 near Rasco Road and take him into custody.
“We’re trying to sift through the evidence, review all the video, but we’re thankful that our officer is okay and the subject is okay,” said Brownlee.
The woman said she doesn’t know how to feel but she is thankful to be alive.
“I’m okay, and everybody else is okay. So that is most important. The car is replaceable, life is not,” she said.
Chambers was shot by police but is expected to make a full recovery at Regional One. Once he is released, he’ll be extradited to the Memphis Police Department where he is expected to face a number of charges.