MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Memphis man has been sentenced to more than 18 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to a brutal early morning carjacking in which he shot a 60-year-old man in the stomach before stealing his vehicle, the Department of Justice announced Thursday.
Jaylen Simpson, 23, was sentenced to 220 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for carjacking resulting in serious bodily injury and discharging a firearm during the commission of a violent crime.
According to court documents, on May 16, 2024, Simpson hid in the victim’s backyard before ambushing him as he stepped outside to mow his lawn around 7:45 a.m. Simpson shot the man in the stomach, stole his keys, and fled in the victim’s car.
Home surveillance video captured the moment Simpson entered the stolen vehicle while holding a black handgun. The victim survived after being hospitalized for four weeks and undergoing multiple surgeries.
Memphis Police officers tracked Simpson for nearly three hours, eventually apprehending him on foot. Inside his backpack, they found a loaded Walther Creed 9mm pistol, reported stolen just days earlier.
During a post-arrest interview, Simpson admitted to waiting outside the home, firing the gun, and taking the vehicle.
“This was a calculated and brutal act of violence against an unsuspecting man in his own front yard in broad daylight,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti. “We are grateful to our law enforcement partners for their swift response.”
ATF officials described Simpson’s actions as “premeditated and horrendous,” citing the case as an example of the agency’s commitment to targeting violent offenders.
