CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. –The Chattanooga Police Department (CPD) arrested
19-year-old Roberto Carlos Meja-Chakate and 23-year-old Jerry
Juarez-Bernabe in relation to the Rossville Boulevard homicide that
occurred on May 17.
On May 17, 2025, at 11:14 p.m., CPD responded to a shooting in the 2900
block of Rossville Boulevard. When the officers arrived at the scene they
found three shooting victims, a 33-year-old man that was deceased, a
44-year-old man with life-threatening injuries, and a 29-year-old man with
non-life-threatening injuries.
Chattanooga Fire and Hamilton County EMS responded to the scene. They
transported two of the victims to a local hospital.
CPD's Homicide Unit responded to conduct the investigation and the Crime
Scene Unit responded to process the crime scene,
The preliminary investigation shows the victims were in a Nissan Frontier
truck and pulled into the parking lot of a bar on Rossville Boulevard. The
two suspects, without being provoked, both produced firearms and fired
multiple times at the victims. The driver, one of the victims, attempted
to drive away but crashed a short distance away.
The suspects drove away in a dark gray Nissan Altima. The suspect vehicle
description was broadcast to CPD and other nearby agencies. Officers with
the East Ridge Police Department (ERPD) observed the suspect vehicle in
their jurisdiction. The suspects bailed out of the vehicle and ran, but
were apprehended by East Ridge police officers.
The Homicide Unit obtained arrest warrants charging Meja-Chakate and
Juarez-Bernabe with First Degree Murder. They were arrested and
transported to the Hamilton County Jail and Detention Center,
This information is preliminary and is subject to change as the
investigation continues. Chattanooga Police ask anyone with
information regarding this incident to call the Homicide Tip Line at
423-643-5100.
The charges and allegations referenced in this release are merely
accusations of criminal conduct and not evidence. A defendant is presumed
innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and
convicted through due process of law.