An 18-year-old with a rifle carjacked a man while running from the police.
Officers with the Metro Nashville Police Department, the Juvenile Crime Task Force, an MNPD helicopter crew, and the SWAT team took 18-year-old Robert L. Johnson into custody Friday night.
The Juvenile Crime Task Force and the helicopter crew headed to the James Cayce public housing development. According to officials, they had received word an officer had spotted a stolen vehicle.
Authorities said the vehicle, a Hyundai Genesis sedan, was taken from Cana Circle in West Nashville after the keys had been left inside.
Officials confirmed Johnson was in the vehicle and ignored their attempts to stop him. He reportedly sped away after jumping the curb.
Johnson was seen by the helicopter crew driving onto Ellington Parkway. Not long after, he left the parkway, crashed into a utility pole on Briarville Road, and walked to a nearby gas station where the carjacking occurred.
Johnson reportedly had a rifle in hand when he carjacked a 22-year-old man for a 2013 Ford Fusion.
The Fusion was then watched by the helicopter crew. It was seen driving to Charter Village Apartments in the 300 block of Rio Vista Drive in Madison.
Officials said ground officers arrived around the same time a report was received about a home invasion at one of the apartments. The suspect’s description matched Johnson.
Authorities said residents got out safely when Johnson went into the apartment.
When SWAT officers got to the scene, they gave Johnson repeated commands to surrender, and he finally complied.
Recovered during the situation were two stolen vehicles and an AK-47 rifle.
Johnson was charged with robbery/carjacking, felony evading arrest, two counts of auto burglary, aggravated criminal trespassing, and four counts of violating his probation that stemmed from arrests in March and April 2018.
According to officials, additional charges have been anticipated. Johnson as being held in lieu of an $87,500 bond.
