Man hospitalized in officer-involved shooting, family member speaks out

DYER COUNTY, Tenn. — An officer-involved shooting has left one man hospitalized.

A stolen vehicle in east Dyer County led officers on a dangerous chase Monday night. Officers were on high alert, as the vehicle contained multiple weapons.

The Dyer County Sheriff’s Office says it all started at 10:04 p.m. when the stolen vehicle was spotted in Newbern.

When Newbern Police officers tried to pull the vehicle over, the suspect, identified as 44-year-old Jeremy Lemons, refused to stop. This resulted in a police chase that landed them in the Tatumville community.

We spoke with the suspect’s uncle at the scene who tells us more about this incident.

“When I got here, they was, all had him blocked in. All of this was taped off. I didn’t even know it was him at the time,” said Anthony Lemons. “The truck was pushed up into there, and they was all around him out here, and I stopped at my mother’s over here and walked over here. They wouldn’t even talk to me.”

Anthony Lemons goes on to say that the stolen vehicle that his nephew was driving belongs to a friend of his.

When the vehicle was forced to stop, deputies say the suspect pulled out a rifle. That’s when two deputies opened fire, striking him.

“They shot him three times,” Anthony Lemons added. “I found out this morning they shot him in the face, arm, and leg. So far he’s still alive.”

According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Jeremy Lemons was flown to a Memphis hospital in stable condition.

The TBI is now reviewing what happened, part of standard procedure anytime officers fire their weapons. Their findings will be turned over to the District Attorney’s office.

No officers were injured in this incident.

This is an active investigation — stay with us on-air and online as we learn more.

For more local news, click here.