MEMPHIS, Tennessee — Just after midnight on Friday, a man was babysitting his ex-girlfriend’s three young children when there was a knock at the door.
Standing outside was Jeremiah Jackson — the children’s 18-year-old older brother.
He asked for his siblings.
When the babysitter opened the door, Jackson did not wait for an answer. According to the Memphis Police Department, he and a second gunman dressed in all-black clothing kicked the front door in.
Babysitter Forced to the Floor at Gunpoint
The babysitter was ordered to get down on the floor.
Jackson then grabbed the three children, took the sitter’s cellphone, and left the scene.
The Memphis Police Department responded to the scene and launched an immediate search for the three missing children and their older brother.
All Three Children Found Safe
The children were located safe earlier Friday, bringing some relief to what had been a terrifying overnight search.
Their exact location at the time of recovery has not been released by authorities.
Suspect Caught Across State Line
Jackson did not get far.
He was taken into custody Friday afternoon in Horn Lake, Mississippi — just south of Memphis across the Tennessee state line — according to records from the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office.
He is currently being held at the DeSoto County Jail and is awaiting extradition back to Shelby County, Tennessee.
Five Felony Charges Filed
Jackson now faces a serious list of charges including especially aggravated kidnapping, aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, aggravated assault, and theft of property.
The identity of the second gunman, described as wearing all-black clothing, has not been publicly confirmed. It is unclear whether that individual has been located or charged.
What We Know About the Family Connection
According to MPD, the babysitter is the mother’s ex-boyfriend — meaning Jackson showed up at the home of someone connected to his own family.
Investigators have not yet stated publicly what motivated the alleged kidnapping or whether there was a prior dispute between the parties involved.
The case remains under active investigation by the Memphis Police Department and Shelby County authorities.
What do you think drove this situation — and does it change how you think about child safety in your community? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
