Police Chase That Began at Northport Walmart Ends in Fiery Wreck Outside Gordo

A police chase that began outside the Northport Walmart Monday evening ended in a fiery crash almost 20 miles away near Gordo.

Assistant Chief Keith Carpenter told the Thread Tuesday that Northport Police Officers were called to the Walmart Supercenter on the northwest side of town at 7:20 p.m. on reports of possible vehicle break-ins.

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Carpenter said multiple callers reported that a young man wearing a full facemask with his hoodie up was testing door handles in the parking lot, and one caller said the suspect actually entered two vehicles in the lot.

The young man, reportedly 19-year-old Tyrone Jefferson, Jr. of Columbus, Mississippi, reportedly fled the NPD officers on foot and eventually jumped into a 2006 Chrysler 300 before lighting off down Highway 82 toward Pickens County.

Carpenter said NPD officers chased Jefferson for some time, but ended their pursuit after he crossed out of their jurisdiction into Pickens County.

There, a Gordo police officer was reportedly waiting to pick up the chase at the intersection of County Road 33 and U.S. 82, and as soon as they spotted Jefferson's Chrysler they began pursuit.

Gordo Police Chief Johnny Stephenson said almost immediately, Jefferson rear-ended a pick-up truck in front of him and the Chrysler left the road, struck a tree and eventually caught fire.

Stephenson said the 19-year-old Mississippi driver tried to flee on foot, but was captured on-site.

The Gordo police chief said Jefferson suffered a minor laceration to his forehead in the accident and was treated at a hospital in Columbus, and the pickup driver who was rear-ended was checked out at DCH Regional Medical Center for a non-life-threatening head injury.

The young man is facing a slew of charges in Pickens County, including first-degree assault for the collision with the other driver, first-degree criminal mischief, reckless endangerment, possession of marijuana, attempting to elude, resisting arrest, leaving the scene of an accident with injuries and obstructing governmental operations.

He is being held in the Pickens County Jail without bond.

It is unclear if he will face any charges for the inciting incidents here in Tuscaloosa County at a later date.