A Tennessee mother has been charged with multiple offences after allegedly attempting to run over students and parents outside a Memphis high school, an incident linked to accusations of bullying involving her child.
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Jasmine Dunmars, 36, faces serious charges including four counts of aggravated assault with a vehicle, as well as assault, reckless endangerment, and vandalism. The alleged events unfolded on April 21 outside Melrose High School, where tensions reportedly rose during a parent-teacher meeting for the school band programme, according to an affidavit obtained by PEOPLE magazine.
The dispute is said to have commenced after another parent, identified as Jada Hayes, approached Dunmars to discuss claims that Dunmars’ child had been bullying Hayes’ daughter. The two women briefly spoke, but Hayes claims Dunmars was not interested in addressing the issues at hand. Following their conversation, Dunmars is alleged to have left the scene in her Jeep Grand Cherokee, only to return moments later as Hayes was preparing to depart in her Nissan Pathfinder.
Witnesses maintained that Dunmars blocked Hayes’ vehicle in the parking lot, which led to a physical altercation involving both women’s daughters. Staff members from the school intervened, attempting to quell the fight. However, the situation continued to escalate when Dunmars allegedly struck Hayes multiple times. Following this altercation, both Hayes and her daughters were moved to a grassy area beside the school building for their safety.
With tensions still raw, witnesses claim Dunmars got back into her SUV and accelerated towards Hayes’ vehicle. The SUV made contact with the passenger side of the Pathfinder while a student attempted to exit the car, resulting in the minor sustaining an abrasion. After reversing her vehicle, Dunmars reportedly turned towards Hayes and both her daughters, along with other students and staff members, attempting to run them down but they managed to escape.
After the incident, Dunmars is alleged to have collided with the Pathfinder again before fleeing the scene. Police officials later identified her as the driver involved in the confrontation. In the wake of the event, Hayes sought an estimate for repairs to her damaged vehicle, which was found to total just over £6,000.
Investigators interviewed both Hayes and her daughter Tatiana, with both identifying Dunmars in separate photographic line-ups. Dunmars was subsequently charged on May 5, with charges including a misdemeanor assault, four counts of felony aggravated assault, a charge of misdemeanor reckless endangerment, and felony vandalism estimated between £2,000 and £8,000.
As the case unfolds, the Memphis Police Department and Shelby County Sheriff’s Office have been contacted for further comments regarding the charges made against Dunmars. The community remains shocked by the incident, raising questions about safety around school premises and the serious implications of bullying.
The legal proceedings are set to draw significant attention as more details emerge regarding the allegations and the background to this troubling confrontation.