18-year-old Malakii Cody and 20-year-old Joseph Stafford were taken into custody following a carjacking and pursuit that happened late Sunday night.

At around 10:15 p.m. on Sunday, January 11, 2026, Knoxville Police Department officers responded to the 2200 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue. Once there, officers spoke with the victim, a 24-year-old man. The victim reported that he was parked in that location when he was approached by two armed subjects who took his Honda Accord at gunpoint.

Around 10 minutes later, officers located the carjacked vehicle in the area of N. Broadway Street and Atlantic Avenue and attempted to stop it. The vehicle did not stop and officers initiated a pursuit. Eventually, the suspects ditched the vehicle in the 2500 block of Harvey Street and ran.

Officers quickly responded to the area and formed a perimeter. A K-9 officer responded in addition to a UAV team member for drone support. With the assistance of the drone and witness information, the two suspects, later identified as Cody and Stafford, were located and taken into custody in the 300 block of E. Burwell Avenue.

The carjacked vehicle, an AR-style pistol and a handgun with a 50-round drum were recovered following the apprehension of the two suspects.

Both Cody and Stafford were charged with carjacking and felony evading arrest.