Executive Summary
- Two 17-year-olds were arrested following an armed carjacking in Nashville.
- The victim was accosted by a masked gunman while parking outside her home.
- Police aerial units tracked the suspects to an apartment after the vehicle was abandoned.
- Investigators recovered a 9mm pistol, ski mask, and the stolen vehicle’s keys.
Two teenagers have been taken into custody following an armed carjacking incident outside a residence in Nashville, Tennessee, on Thursday evening, according to the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD).
Authorities report that the incident took place on the 7200 block of Althrop Way as a woman was parking her Toyota sedan. MNPD officials stated that a masked gunman approached the victim’s window, knocked, and demanded her keys at gunpoint. The victim complied with the demands, and investigators say the suspect drove away in her vehicle.
Law enforcement located the stolen sedan later on Zermatt Avenue. According to police reports, a police helicopter pilot observed two males exiting the vehicle and walking to a nearby apartment complex. Officers on the ground responded to the location and took two 17-year-olds into custody.
During a search of the apartment, officers recovered a nine-millimeter pistol, a ski mask, gloves, and the keys to the stolen Toyota, according to the police inventory. MNPD identified one of the suspects as 17-year-old Jabari Thomas, who has been charged in juvenile court with carjacking. The second 17-year-old suspect, whose name was not released, has been charged with joyriding.
Juvenile Proceedings and Investigation
The swift apprehension of the suspects underscores the effectiveness of coordinating ground units with aerial surveillance in tracking fleeing vehicles. As the case moves through the juvenile court system, prosecutors will likely focus on the recovery of the weapon and the direct evidence linking the teens to the scene. The charges reflect the varying degrees of alleged involvement between the two suspects. It is important to note that all individuals, including juveniles, are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
