MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A 39-year-old woman has been charged with attempted first-degree murder following a harrowing incident in which she allegedly ran over her ex-boyfriend multiple times with her SUV. The violent encounter took place in the normally quiet neighborhood on Gilleas Road shortly before noon on Saturday.
Witnesses reported hearing shouting and the revving of an engine, leading to the dramatic confrontation. According to law enforcement, the victim, who remains hospitalized in critical condition, was attempting to flee when Tanieka Ray allegedly struck him with her vehicle, causing him to fall onto a neighbor’s lawn.
Authorities say the altercation escalated as Ray reportedly drove over the victim several times while he lay injured on the ground. A nearby resident, alerted by the commotion, rushed to assist and discovered the man leaning against a fence. After bringing him onto his porch, the neighbor called emergency services for help.
When police arrived, they found the victim with severe injuries, including multiple broken bones and dislocated joints. Medics transported him to a local hospital, where he continues to receive treatment.
Investigators gathered testimony from the neighbor, who observed Ray driving her SUV erratically, making U-turns while shouting threats at the victim on the ground. The witness recounted overhearing Ray vow to run over him again, which intensified the seriousness of the charges against her.
The victim was later able to provide a statement, which corroborated the neighbor’s account. He described how Ray struck him first before circling back and hitting him three to four additional times as he attempted to escape. After the attack, she fled the scene but crashed her SUV into a utility pole just a short distance away and subsequently abandoned the vehicle, fleeing on foot.
Police eventually located Ray at a residence on East Davant Avenue, where she was apprehended without incident. The neighbor identified her as the driver involved during a police lineup.
Ray was booked over the weekend on the attempted murder charge, with her arraignment forthcoming. Meanwhile, the victim’s medical team has indicated that he will require surgery to address the extensive injuries sustained during the assault.
The investigation is ongoing as detectives work to piece together the events leading up to this alarming situation, scrutinizing any evidence that may shed light on the circumstances surrounding the violent altercation.