West TN deputy shot, injured during gas station robbery

FAYETTE COUNTY, Tenn. (AP) — Authorities say a premeditated gas station robbery in West Tennessee ended in a gunfire exchange that left a deputy injured.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation says 21-year-old Christopher Dewayne Lee of Memphis and 26-year-old Jessica Gardner of Oakland were arrested after Thursday morning’s shooting.

In a statement, the bureau says Lee was outside Murphy’s Gas Station in Oakland when he took a deposit bag from Gardner, the clerk accused of helping plan the robbery.

The statement says Lee exchanged gunfire with a responding Oakland police officer and Fayette County sheriff’s deputy, who was shot. Authorities say Lee then stole a car, crashed it, and was taken into custody.

Lee and the deputy suffered non-critical injuries.

Lee faces seven charges, including attempted first-degree murder. Gardner is charged with theft over $10,000. It’s unclear if either has a lawyer.