Suspect dead after shootout with police had been arrested, released in March, records show

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The 18-year-old suspect killed in a shootout that also killed a Memphis Police officer and wounded three others had been arrested just over a month ago but was released from jail.

A source close to the investigation confirmed the 18-year-old’s name was Jaylen Lobley.

Shelby County court records show Lobley was arrested on March 5 and charged with two counts of auto theft, unlawful possession of a weapon, prohibited weapon – machine gun, and two counts of vandalism related to broken car windows and key reprogrammer in his possession.

Memphis police officer and suspect dead after shootout; multiple officers injured

On March 2 and 3, two people reported their cars, a white Infiniti Q50 and a red Dodge Charger, had been stolen. Both were recovered with broken windows and reprogrammed keys.

Police say on the morning of March 5, they responded to a suspicious vehicle call at Lobley’s listed address in Whitehaven. The call was for a red Dodge Charger parked in the backyard of the residence.

When officers arrived, they said they found a white Infiniti backed in the driveway and running, with a rear window broken and covered in plastic. Inside, police say they found Lobley, asleep in the running car.

They say they found a 9 mm gun with 30 live rounds and a Glock switch converting it to a fully automatic weapon, between the driver’s seat and center console. That gun had been reported stolen on March 3.

Lobley allegedly admitted to investigators with the Auto Theft Task Force that he stole the Charger and Infiniti, and said he found the gun in a car he’d stolen earlier. He also told police that he’d fired the gun and confirmed the Glock switch worked as it should.

He was taken to the county jail at 201 Poplar, but the next day a Judicial Commissioner gave him a $10,000 bond.

Interim Police Chief C. J. Davis said Friday that the suspect had been released without bond.

Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy confirmed that Lobley had been released on an ROR bond — on his own recognizance — with terms including reporting and curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. The decision was made by a judicial commissioner who, he said, acted against the wishes of the D.A.’s office.

“This bond was granted by a Shelby County Judicial Commissioner following a hearing where our office strongly argued against lowering the bond, citing the defendant’s danger to the community. Despite our arguments, the Commissioner approved the ROR bond,” Mulroy said.

“My office was actively prioritizing the Lobley case, identifying him as a high-risk offender and reviewing his file as part of our Project Safe Neighborhoods state-federal partnership. Even though Lobley was a first-time offender, his case had been accepted for Federal prosecution. This is consistent with my firm belief, made a part of our ‘V11’ violent crime initiative, that individuals found with stolen cars and guns, or found with Glock switches, can pose a danger and must be dealt with accordingly,” Mulroy continued.

Mulroy also expressed his condolences to Officer McKinney’s family, loved ones, and colleagues at MPD.

“Upon learning of this tragic incident, I promptly called in TBI to investigate,” he said.

Officials honor Memphis Police officer killed in shootout

Lobley’s case was continued on April 2 and he was set for a preliminary hearing on April 30 in Judge Ronald Lucchesi’s court, online court records show.

Davis said Friday that the suspect — now identified as Lobley — was pronounced dead after he was taken to the hospital following the shooting.

When WREG reached Lobley’s mother by phone she said, “You think I really want to talk to you when my son was just killed”?

One of the officers hit by gunfire, Joseph McKinney, was killed in the incident. Two other officers and another teenage suspect were wounded.

“Children-involved crime in this city is really getting out of hand. More has to be done, has to be done. Parents have to be held accountable for their children,” one resident in the neighborhood said.

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