TENNESSEE — In response to a series of armed carjackings in the Antioch area Sunday and Monday, Juvenile Crime Task Force officers early today arrested eight teenagers, ranging in age from 14 to 17, recovered five carjacked/stolen vehicles, and seized a .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol with a defaced serial number.
The Task Force was directed to focus its attention on this investigation on Tuesday given the random violent victimization of persons in our community.
The overnight break came when officers located and recovered a carjacked 2010 Chevrolet Traverse SUV on Lyndon Parks Drive. Two teens, 16 and 17, were taken into custody in the vicinity of the vehicle. Other persons who had gotten out of it were determined to have entered an apartment in the Noah’s Landing complex at 2570 Murfreesboro Pike. During the execution of a search warrant at the apartment, officers encountered the six other teenagers without any adult supervision. Inside the apartment were multiple key fobs to recently carjacked vehicles, the gun, and 29 grams of marijuana in a plastic bag. Several of the teens said that not only did they have knowledge of the pistol, but that they had also handled it.
The five carjacked vehicles and the circumstances under which they were taken include:
*2015 Mercedes sedan, taken from Arbor Ridge Drive at 1:05 a.m. Sunday. The 49-year-old male victim reported that he was seated in his parked car talking on the phone when two young men armed with pistols approached. One pointed his gun at the victim’s head and told him to give up everything. They took the victim’s keys, briefly left, came back and stole the car.
*2010 Nissan Sentra, taken from Coneflower Trail at 1:45 a.m. on Sunday. The 39-year-old male victim reported that moments after pulling into his driveway, he was confronted by three apparent juveniles armed with pistols. After one of the suspects put a gun to his head, the victim surrendered his car.
*2016 Nissan Altima, taken from the 2600 block of Nolensville Pike at 2:15 a.m. Sunday. The 19-year-old female victim reported that she was parked on the street when a vehicle parked behind her. Four young men, at least two of them with guns, demanded her belongings. She got out of the car and the robbers fled in it.
*2013 Toyota Avalon, taken from Dover Glen Drive at 10:40 p.m. Sunday. The 41-year-old male victim reported that as he parked his car in his driveway, a vehicle pulled in behind him. Three young men, all armed with pistols, got out and demanded his phone, wallet and car keys. The suspects fled in the Avalon.
*2010 Chevrolet Traverse, taken from Highlander Drive at 12:15 a.m. on Monday. The 26-year-old male victim reported that eight young men, all with guns, approached him as he parked in front of his house. They demanded his car keys, pushed him to the ground, and fled in the SUV.
The Juvenile Crime Task Force charged each of the eight teens (one 17-year-old, five 16-year-olds, and two 14-year-olds) with five counts of auto theft, unlawful gun possession, alteration of a firearm serial number, and possession of marijuana for resale. South Precinct detectives are continuing to investigate them in regard to the carjackings/robberies.
