MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WTVF) — Four men were arrested Friday by Arkansas State Police in connection with an attempted ATM theft in Murfreesboro that left one suspect dead after being shot by a customer.
The suspects were apprehended while apparently heading back to Texas, according to police. They are now awaiting extradition to Tennessee.
The attempted robbery occurred around 5 a.m. Friday at the 7-Eleven Exxon on East Northfield Boulevard when multiple suspects tried to steal an ATM using a sledgehammer to break through the glass.
A customer inside the store displayed a gun and fired at the individuals attempting to steal the ATM, striking and killing one suspect identified as 23-year-old Tyrese Walder. The other suspects fled the scene, leaving Walder behind.
"When officers arrived, the windows of the business were busted out, a guy wire around an ATM that's been pulled off its base and one person deceased outside the building," Murfreesboro Police Department spokesperson Larry Flowers said.
"From what the investigation gathered, they were after that ATM and that ATM only. We would not encourage people to get or intervene in these types of situations," Flowers said.
Officers later found a stolen pickup truck with the guy wire still attached and a second stolen vehicle abandoned nearby. Police believe both vehicles were used in the attempted theft.
With help from license plate reader cameras, crime analysts with the Murfreesboro Police Department's Real Time Crime Center identified the suspects' getaway vehicle. Detectives issued a nationwide alert for the SUV.
Karen Laakkonen, a customer who visited the store after the incident, noticed the damage immediately.
"The window broke out, and the first thing I asked her is, 'What happened?' Because I worked in a convenience store. And we actually had about the same thing happen," Laakkonen said.
Investigators are looking into whether this incident is connected to another ATM theft that occurred eight months ago at a different 7-Eleven on South Church Street, where thieves were caught on camera.
Detectives have spoken to the customer who fired the shot and are continuing their investigation.
This story was reported on-air by Aaron Cantrell and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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